Understanding synergies between electric-vehicle market dynamics and sustainability: Case study of Colombia

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EV) are considered an option for reducing the transport sector's environmental impacts. Motivated by environmental concerns, governments are formulating policies for the promotion of EV. However, the EV transition has more than environmental benefits; it also has economic and social impacts that are usually not considered. Understanding the effects of the transition to EV on sustainability has become increasingly important in the appropriate public policies formulation and evaluation. This article presents a system dynamics model representing the Colombian EV market and the relationships between the market dynamics and sustainability. This model is used to understand the synergistic effects between the Colombian-market dynamics and sustainability system. The results show that the synergies between market dynamics and sustainability are important. Neglecting them would result in different behaviours from those exhibited in real life and overestimating performance measures. Therefore, the effects of policies that promote EVs would be inadequate if synergies are not considered. This approach is a first step towards improving the understanding of sustainable transport impacts from a holistic perspective and can formulate more robust policies.