Increased safety, an unprecedented level of comfort and a gain in personal time. These are the key promises of the global automotive industry for the future of mobility in the form of automated and connected driving. Less prominent in the advertising campaigns of manufacturers, yet of central social importance, are the potential effects of these technologies on the climate. Today, the transport sector is already responsible for around one quarter of global CO2 emissions, with road traffic accounting for the lion’s share at 17.5%. In addition, the so-called “diesel scandal” in Germany, triggered in 2015, has increasingly put the spotlight on the emission of harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) in road traffic and the associated air pollution. In light of these considerable negative consequences for the climate and the environment, the development of new technologies raises the following important questions: How sustainable is the future of this new mobility? What potential…
