Award Information
All countries on the earth face serious impacts of global warming and climate change on environment, communities, and human health. The threats are real and worsening over years due to lack of progress in reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) despite the formation of international treaties, as well as policies in individual countries. One major challenge is the amount of GHG emissions in the transportation sector due to the current dominance of internal combustion engine vehicles and the increase in vehicle distance traveled. Given the current status of vehicle technologies and related infrastructure, electric vehicles (EVs) have the main role in the strategies and efforts to reduce GHG emissions on roadways around the globe. In the proposed study, I will examine the effectiveness, hurdles, and challenges in current EV-related policies and planning programs in Japan, the US, and the UK, with particular attentions on coordination and consistency between multiple levels of government. To achieve the goal in this study, I will first conduct a comprehensive literature review of EV-related policies and planning programs in multiple levels of government in the three countries, and also describe, visualize, analyze, and compare data on the EV adoption and EV infrastructure supply, applying statistical and geographic information system (GIS) analysis methods. In the next phase, I will employ the "ranking-type" Delphi method to gain the collective knowledge of experts on (a) effective policies and planning programs in multiple levels of government to promote EVs and (b) hurdles and challenges that potentially hinder success in the timely EV adoption or EV infrastructure supply, or both. In the final phase, I will apply the ranked lists resulting from the Delphi method study to evaluate six cases in detail; I will examine reasons for selected local policies and planning programs, and evaluate outcomes, compared to expectations, with particular attentions to similarities and differences in selected strategies, planning and implementation procedure, organizational structures, and various issues and factors (e.g., opportunities, hurdles, challenges, leadership, and change in public perception) that may emerge in the implementation stage in each case. The proposed study aims at providing a set of clear recommendations in policy and planning that will enhance the effectiveness in the EV promotion and EV infrastructure supply in future to achieve the GHG reduction goals. It will fill the gap in academic research and policy discussion. The study addresses the two themes emphasized as the Abe Fellowship Research Agenda: "1) Threats to Personal, Societal, and International Security," and "2) Growth and Sustainable Development." The global warming and climate change pose substantial threats to people and communities, as well as environment on the earth. The timely development and adoption of technologies of alternative fuel vehicles along with technologies to produce renewable energy is critical in terms of sustainable development and growth from the global perspective.