Low-carbon technologies and just energy transition: Prospects for electric vehicles

Abstract

The impacts of low-carbon technologies are spread across countries and lifecycle stages in ways that can compromise the achievement of an inclusive and equitable energy transition. Based on an exploratory review, this paper identifies the main activities of the electric vehicles (EVs) life cycle, where they occur, and potentially associated injustices. Through a whole systems approach, energy justice tenets are extended to the EV technology, highlighting how it might fail to fully support a low-carbon and just energy transition. Results provide insights into how EVs can contribute to flexibility justice through smart grids and vehicle-to-grid developments, cosmopolitan justice as a consequence of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and global resource depletion, and restorative justice through laws and standards that demand environmental restoration and social compensation over affected communities. However, reviewed documents indicate that efforts must be directed toward reducing distributional, procedural, and recognition injustices across the North-South divide, especially those related to mining activities in the resource extraction and processing stage. EVs upfront costs and charging infrastructure issues may also exclude poor and rural communities during its operational stage. Recommendations for future research include technical aspects such as battery composition and recycling, which will determine the overall impact of EVs on resource extraction and end of life stages, and social aspects of EV-technology such as social innovations that can promote its inclusiveness, the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, and the quantification of social impacts of low-carbon technologies.