Chapter 5
Prospects and Evolutions of Electric-Powered Vehicles: What Technologies by 2015? 1
5.1. Mobility
Transport activity is characterized both by its extreme diversity and its intersection with all other spheres of economic and social life, on all scales of the territory.
In a century, technological evolutions have made phenomenally great strides in mobility, which has largely contributed to reorganizing our societies. It has supported economic, social and cultural development.
The main tendencies of this mobility are the following.
The era of megalopolises
By supporting the movement of goods and people, mobility has contributed to the creation of major urban centers. In 2005, half of the world’s population will live in urban areas,compared to 30% in 1950. The phenomenon is particularly strong in developing countries. In 2000, 15 of the 19 megalopolises were in developing countries. In 2015, 18 of the 23 megalopolises will be located there.
Sustainable mobility
We speak about this more and more; it is the merging of mobility and sustainable development, or how to support an equitable mobility for the greatest number, limiting its environmental effects at an acceptable cost. It is by necessity a complex and long-term approach, requiring thinking as to the complementary action of modes of transport and the answers to the real needs of the population.
Further, but not much further
Because of the increase in modern societies’ urbanization, the distances covered increase each ...
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