Abstract:

Transport underpins our society. It connects people, cities, countries and economies, fostering growth and employment. However, transport also damages the climate, the environment and human health. To reduce these impacts, Europe needs to move towards a more sustainable circular economy and decarbonised transport system. Electric vehicles are one of the ways in which Europe can move towards a more sustainable transport system. The EU is committed to developing a more sustainable circular economy and decarbonised transport system. Developing a circular economy that inter alia aims to increase resource efficiency is key in realising the second main objective of the 7th Environment Action Programme, that the EU should turn into a resource  efficient, green and competitive low-carbon economy (EU, 2013). To focus this transition, a number of future targets have been set to reduce the environmental impacts of transport in Europe. The transport sector's GHG emission reduction targets are, for example, designed to contribute to the EU's overall goal to reduce GHG emissions by 80–95 % by 2050.