Exploring the expectations of transport professionals concerning the future automobility system: Visions, challenges, and transitions

Abstract

A mixture of potentially significant changes in technology, commercial structures and social practices are currently entering the automobility system. These changes have the potential to combine together and lead to a substantial shift in the manner in which society fuels, owns and makes use of its cars. This paper reports a research project which made use of focus groups to examine the narratives of British transport professionals concerning forthcoming developments in the automobility system. Specific attention was given to what the expectations for future change in automobility are, if these changes will likely lead to a transition towards a more sustainable system and the manner in which a transition of this nature could be facilitated. The oral testimony offered during the focus groups has been assessed qualitatively using thematic analysis. The results suggest that there is a commonly held view that the automobility system is entering a stage of flux which may lead to considerable changes in system configuration. However, the attainment of a sustainable transition for the system will likely be inhibited by a series of institutional, societal and physical barriers which may restrict system developments.

The Landscape of Envisioning and Speculative Design Methods for Sustainable Mobility Futures

“…PSTS are a relevant example of high object-focus methods as they acknowledge a higher impact on the environment than the traditional business decision-making. Furthermore, technological solutions that are focusing on customers' needs [102,103] enable a system of diverse shared mobility possibilities, offering alternative transitions pathways towards more sustainable systems [104]. Furthermore, papers applying radical innovation via meaning (4/2009) permit a new understanding of products through aesthetic reflection and developing innovation practices [105].…”

The Case of Mobility as a Service: A Critical Reflection on Challenges for Urban Transport and Mobility Governance

“…Transport professionals are well aware of the history of unanticipated consequences around many 20th century mobility innovations such as biofuels (Morton, Budd, Harrison and Mattioli 2017). Therefore, in this section we now consider two interdependent issues with MaaS that are underexamined.…”

“…This path carries profound implications for decision-making in transport and urban governance, as there is a critical governance gap in relation to managing the Smart Mobility transition if regulation is removed in a bid to placate private sector demands. MaaS innovators are primarily private sector firms who are attempting to steer the development of the mobility system in ways that serve their vested interests (Vergregt and Brown 2007), and regulatory capture through manipulating transport governance mechanisms does have a precedent (Morton et al 2017). The further commodification of urban mobility, whilst offering opportunities to some consumers, is not synonymous with being able to steer mobility systems to more desirable outcomes.…”

The Effect of Electric Car Adoption on Travel Patterns

“…Business-as-usual would have EVs simply slot into the current mould of private household car ownership (Morton et al 2017). At the other end of the spectrum, new mobility services may be formed which use EVs as the physical platform to provide flexible on-demand access to mobility which encourage households to move away from private ownership (Firnkorn and Müller, 2015).…”