To avoid significant global disruption, scientists assert that global warming must be kept below a 2-degree Celsius rise from pre-industrial levels—a goal formalized in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Meeting that challenge will require near total decarbonization of global economic activity by 2060. The transportation sector accounts for a quarter of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Electrification of this sector is underway and there is reason to believe that we can decarbonize the automobile industry by 2060. This briefing summarizes the key findings from the report titled Path to 2060: Decarbonizing the Automobiles Sector. The report explores the evolution of electric vehicles and the policies and market conditions that paved the way for their adoption, and the levers to support continued movement toward industry decarbonization. Available electric vehicle technologies are evaluated as well as the influence of autonomous driving.
