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Where are we heading, and where do we want to go?: Exploring transport system futures, climate targets and new mobility services
KTH, School of Architecture and the Built Environment (ABE), Sustainable development, Environmental science and Engineering.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4542-8700
2025 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Sustainable development
SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities, SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production, SDG 13: Climate action
Abstract [en]

This thesis is written at a time when a considerable gap exists between the current trajectory of the transport system and developments in line with societal goals, such as those set to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Responding to the challenge, the thesis explores what futures aligned with societal goals can entail. Transport system scenarios fulfilling climate goals are developed and analysed, examining the potential of electrification, biofuels, and vehicle efficiency. The thesis also pays special attention to New MobilityServices (NMS), which enables mobility through vehicle sharing and ridesharing. In addition to developing scenarios where NMS are included, are view explores other studies in which target-fulfilling scenarios have been developed, to understand possible future roles of the services. The thesis also investigates potential contributions from mobility and accessibility services to reduce transport volumes, facilitating a modal shift from car use to alternative transport modes, and enhancing the environmental performance of cars when in use. Potential tensions associated with NMS are also explored, which can be barriers to successful implementation at scale.

The thesis contributes to the understanding of what future transport systems achieving climate goals could entail. The results show that a combination of technological advancements and behavioural changes will be necessary. Significant contributions to emissions reductions are expected from, for example, electrification, biofuels, and improvements in vehicle energy efficiency. Despite this, there is still a need to reduce transport volumes from cars, air travel, and freight via road networks to an extent that represents a major break in trends. This is partly due to the insufficient maturity of technological alternatives and the long turnover time of the passenger car fleet, which limits the progress of electrification. It is also due to the fact that biobased raw materials for fuel production are limited resources from both territorial and global perspectives. Moreover, even vehicles with low direct emissions result in significant emissions from lifecycle stages such as the production of vehicles and fuels. It is demonstrated that large vehicle fleets may be challenging to reconcile with climate ambitions concretised through the European emissions trading system.

Another contribution of this thesis is an improved understanding of potential futures for NMS. A potential role of NMS in achieving societal targets such as greenhouse gas emissions reductions is concluded. In the developed scenarios, car-sharing plays an important role in ensuring car access when the number of cars decreases. Mechanisms are also identified through which several services can contribute to avoiding transport, shifting from car travel, and improving environmental performance when cars are used. However, negatively contributing mechanisms are also identified, and a challenge arises from the fact that the mechanisms are intertwined in complex relationships and embedded in contexts that have implications for the final impact. In addition, 168 identified tensions presented within a set of ten themes demonstrate challenges to the feasibility of future sustainable transport systems where NMS plays a significant role, which needs to be navigated. The tensions involve public entities, private organisations as well as citizens/users. It is concluded that there is a need to connect individual mechanisms and tensions to cumulative system level impacts and to maintain a systems perspective when investigating the effects of the services.

Abstract [sv]

Denna avhandling är skriven i en tid då det finns betydande klyftor mellan den utveckling transportsystemet följer och den som krävs för att uppnå samhällsmål som kraftigt minskade växthusgasutsläpp. Avhandlingen svarar mot denna utmaning genom att undersöka hur framtider i linje med sådanamål kan se ut. Scenarier för transportsystemet som uppfyller klimatmål utvecklas och analyseras, och centrala element som elektrifiering, biobränsle och fordonseffektivisering utforskas. En fördjupad ansats görs också för att förstå möjliga framtider för nya mobilitetstjänster, dvs nya tjänster som möjliggör mobilitet genom delning av fordon och samåkning. Utöver att mobilitetstjänsterna ingår i egenutvecklade scenarier görs en genomgång avandra framtidsorienterade studier med fokus på tjänsternas roll i måluppfyllande framtidsbilder. Avhandlingen undersöker även tjänsternas potentiella roll i att undvika transporter, åstadkomma ett skifte från bilanvändning till andra färdmedel och förbättra miljöprestandan för bilar när de används.

Avhandlingen bidrar till förståelsen av vad framtida transportsystem somuppnår klimatmål kan innebära. Resultaten visar att en kombination av teknik och beteendeförändringar kommer att behövas för att uppnå klimatmålen. Betydande bidrag till utsläppsminskningar kommer från bl.a. elektrifiering, biobränslen och ökad fordonsenergieffektivitet. Trots detta finns ett behov av minskade transportvolymer från bilar, flygresor och frakt via vägnätet i en omfattning som motsvarar ett betydande trendbrott. Detta beror delvis på begränsad teknikmognad bland de möjliga alternativen, samt en lång omsättningstid för personbilar som begränsar elektrifieringens framfart. Därtill leder även fordon med låga utsläpp från användarfasen till betydande indirekta utsläpp i samband med bland annat fordons- och energiproduktion. På grund av detta kan stora bilflottor vara svåra att kombinera med klimatambitioner såsom de som specificeras genom det europeiska utsläppshandelssystemet. Det finns även ett resursperspektiv som behöverbeaktas när alternativ till fossila bränslen används i allt högre utsträckning. Både biobränslen och batterimetaller finns i begränsad mängd, och efterfrågasför andra ändamål och i många länder. 

Denna avhandling bidrar även till förståelsen av potentiella framtider för nya mobilitetstjänster. Avhandlingen visar på en potential bland tjänsterna i att bidra till samhällsmål som lägre växthusgasutsläpp. I de egenutvecklade scenarierna har bildelning en viktig roll för att säkerställa biltillgång när flottans storlek minskar och bidrar till en reducerad efterfrågan på transporter. Vidare identifieras mekanismer genom vilka flera olika tjänster kan bidra tillatt helt undvika transporter, ett skifte från resor med bil till andra färdmedel och till att förbättra miljöprestandan när bilar används. En utmaning uppstår i att positivt och negativt bidragande mekanismerna är tätt sammanflätade ikomplexa relationer och inbäddade i ett sammanhang som präglar effekterna som uppstår. Dessutom identifieras 168 spänningar som hotar realiseringen av hållbara transportsystemframtider där mobilitetstjänster spelar en större roll. Av detta följer behovet av ett systemperspektiv som länkar samman enskilda mekanismer och effekter för att bättre förstå den totala påverkan som tjänsterna kan komma att ha.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: KTH Royal Institute of Technology , 2025. , p. 71
Series
TRITA-ABE-DLT ; 2514
Keywords [en]
Transport, mobility service, backcasting, scenario, sustainability, climate, life cycle, Avoid–Shift–Improve, tensions
Keywords [sv]
Transport, mobilitetstjänster, backcasting, scenarier, hållbarhet, klimat, livscykelperspektiv, Avoid–Shift–Improve, spänningar
National Category
Environmental Studies in Social Sciences
Research subject
Planning and Decision Analysis, Strategies for sustainable development
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-363333ISBN: 978-91-8106-303-5 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-363333DiVA, id: diva2:1958085
Public defence
2025-06-05, D3, Lindstedtsvägen 9, 3rd floor, KTH Campus, public video conference link https://kth-se.zoom.us/j/67395367548, Stockholm, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Note

QC 20250514

Available from: 2025-05-14 Created: 2025-05-13 Last updated: 2025-12-17Bibliographically approved
List of papers
1. Low emission scenarios with shared and electric cars: Analyzing life cycle emissions, biofuel use, battery utilization, and fleet development
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Low emission scenarios with shared and electric cars: Analyzing life cycle emissions, biofuel use, battery utilization, and fleet development
2024 (English)In: International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, ISSN 1556-8318, E-ISSN 1556-8334, Vol. 18, no 2, p. 115-133Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Passenger cars contribute considerably to total emissions of greenhouse gasses. In this article, we develop scenarios for the Swedish passenger car fleet in 2030, achieving a 70% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as compared to 2010. The number of shared and electric cars, how they are combined, and levels of biofuel use differ between the scenarios. Transport volumes, car access, battery use, indirect emissions, and fleet development are evaluated and compared. Conclusions based on the scenarios include:

  • Target-fulfillment requires a reduction in kilometers traveled by passenger cars. The reductions are 21%–47% per capita in six scenarios.
  • Major changes to both removal rate and new car sales are needed, highlighting a policy challenge for the coming decade.
  • Total battery capacity in the vehicle fleet increase from 1 GWh 2018 to 73–168 GWh in the six scenarios. This implies a need for careful consideration regarding resource scarcity and production capacity. A new metric, vehicle kilometers/(kWh*year), is developed and tested to explore efficiency in battery use.
  • Reducing direct emissions through a high production of electric cars causes tensions in relation to the European Emissions Trading System due to the indirect emissions that arise. It is therefore important to consider indirect emissions in policymaking.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Informa UK Limited, 2024
National Category
Environmental Studies in Social Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-363235 (URN)10.1080/15568318.2023.2248049 (DOI)001066711200001 ()2-s2.0-85171255102 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Mistra - The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research
Note

Correction in DOI 10.1080/15568318.2023.2264745

QC 20250509

Available from: 2025-05-08 Created: 2025-05-08 Last updated: 2025-07-18Bibliographically approved
2. Investigating potential effects of mobility and accessibility services using the avoid-shift-improve framework
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Investigating potential effects of mobility and accessibility services using the avoid-shift-improve framework
2023 (English)In: Sustainable cities and society, ISSN 2210-6707, Vol. 96, p. 104676-104676, article id 104676Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Mobility services and accessibility services could contribute to reduced car-dependency and a more sustainable transport system. However, uncertainty remains regarding what the effects will be and further research is needed. In this paper we examine potential effects on passenger car-travel in an urban context. To do so, we actuate the Avoid-Shift-Improve (ASI) framework using a System Dynamics approach and develop thematic Causal Loop Diagrams. We draw on the findings from a literature study and workshops engaging actors involved in creating visions and planning for the future of mobility and accessibility services in Stockholm, Sweden. The effects discovered are categorized as direct, enabling and structural/systemic, using a retrofitted version of the Three-Levels Model. Contributions include the mapping of mechanisms through which the services can have positive and negative effects in relation to ASI, demonstrating a high degree of interconnectedness. This includes potential synergetic and competitive relations between the services. In addition, the approach gives insight to potential cumulative impact of the services, relatable to Mobility as a Service, including ‘user near’ effects regarding, e.g., commuting and leisure travel, as well as systemic and structural level effects. A discussion is conducted on the implications for actors and policy-makers.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier BV, 2023
Keywords
Mobility service, Accessibility service, Mobility as a service, Sustainable urban mobility, Avoid-shift-improve, Car travel, Climate change, Environmental sustainability, System dynamics, Three-levels model of effects
National Category
Transport Systems and Logistics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-328175 (URN)10.1016/j.scs.2023.104676 (DOI)001011588700001 ()2-s2.0-85160727698 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Mistra - The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research
Note

QC 20230706

Available from: 2023-06-03 Created: 2023-06-03 Last updated: 2025-05-13Bibliographically approved
3. Sustainable transport 2035: Consumption based life-cycle emissions aligned with the Paris Agreement
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Sustainable transport 2035: Consumption based life-cycle emissions aligned with the Paris Agreement
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This paper explores transport futures 2035, taking a consumption-based life-cycle perspective to GHG emissions. Two scenarios are included: one where the current trend with growing volumes of road and air transport continues, and one sustainable scenario aligned with the Paris agreement. Special focus is on the potential of (1) digitalisation to avoid travel by place independent work, (2) digital meetings to avoid business travel (3) mobility services and (4) infrastructure use.

The paper uses Sweden as a case. With our scope transport emissions become 145% higher than direct emissions from domestic transport in 2018. Key changes in the sustainable scenario are: (a) reduced commuting by car by 30%, reducing total car kilometres by 13% (b) reduced air travel by 45%, enabled by improved rail services, digital meetings and appropriate pricing (c) high utilization of vehicles and infrastructure, which is crucial to limit indirect emissions.

National Category
Environmental Studies in Social Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-363238 (URN)
Note

QC 20250512

Available from: 2025-05-08 Created: 2025-05-08 Last updated: 2025-05-13Bibliographically approved
4. Tensions and New Mobility Services in Sustainable Transport Futures
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Tensions and New Mobility Services in Sustainable Transport Futures
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The transport system faces major challenges in meeting societal goals and climate targets. New Mobility Services (NMS) can contribute to more sustainable transport by facilitating mobility through ride and vehicle sharing. However, they are involved in tensions that risk undermining their contributions. This paper aims to investigate how such tensions can negatively impact the feasibility of sustainable transport system futures.

Tensions are outlined as an analytical concept by drawing on futures studies and the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP). Literature is surveyed and the 168 identified tensions are presented in the form of condensed summaries/themes. These are legislative frameworks, aspects of sustainability, use of space, digital vulnerability, public revenues, market dynamics, biased access, induced travel, modal competition, and individual decisions. The role of a wide range of social groups are highlighted including public actors, private organisations and users.

We conclude that the tensions need to be navigated, managed, and/or resolved in planning and decision-making to ensure that NMS contribute to sustainable transport. Given their interlinked nature, the tensions must be addressed both individually and collectively. We also find that the approach, combining a futures studies perspective and the MLP, provides a useful way of understanding the role of tensions in transport system futures.

National Category
Environmental Studies in Social Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-363240 (URN)
Note

QC 20250509

Available from: 2025-05-08 Created: 2025-05-08 Last updated: 2025-05-13Bibliographically approved
5. New Mobility Services in Sustainable Transport Futures: A ChatGPT Supported Review of Backcasting Approaches
Open this publication in new window or tab >>New Mobility Services in Sustainable Transport Futures: A ChatGPT Supported Review of Backcasting Approaches
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

New Mobility Services (NMS) have gained increasing attention in the recent decade, in pursuit of a sustainable transport system. Therefore, there is a need to better understand the expected relations between the services and societal goals. The primary aim of this paper is to identify what roles NMS have in relation to sustainable transport systems futures, focusing on studies using a backcasting approach. A secondary aim of this paper is to explore how ChatGPT can be used in the research process as editorial support, to extract information and conduct analyses.

We find that NMS features most frequently in low carbon scenarios but are also included to e.g. increase accessibility or to contribute to wider visions of sustainability. The services are expected to have a limited role within the current trajectory, with the exception of shared autonomous vehicles (AV) in several studies or as a threat to the automotive industry (one study). In goal-fulfilling images, the emphasis placed on the services vary greatly. AVs, e.g., are not considered in some cases yet they are the major decisive change in others. We also find that analyses of futures generally do not respond to the criticisms of NMS.

The main benefit of using ChatGPT was editorial support and revising text. The usefulness in extracting information and conducting analysis may have been limited by the lack of accessibility to material. However, ChatGPT discovered two errors made by the human authors. In the discussion, we outline how generative AI can be used to support backcasting.

National Category
Environmental Studies in Social Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-363241 (URN)
Note

QC 20250509

Available from: 2025-05-08 Created: 2025-05-08 Last updated: 2025-05-13Bibliographically approved

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Berg Mårtensson, Hampus

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