Sustainable TransportationAndo Investing

Sustainable Transportation Trends We Think are Pretty Cool

Big companies are changing the way our world travels, even if we are still under stay-at-home orders.

Planes, trains, trucks, automobiles—gassing up, shipping goods, and getting out of town looks a little different now, especially during a pandemic. Whether we are measuring the environmental impact of fewer cars commuting due to COVID-19, or dreaming of Zero Lab’s Electric Bronco, sustainable transportation is changing the way our world travels, even if we are still under stay-at-home orders (raise your hand if you’re planning a socially distanced road trip!).   

It’s a known fact: burning fossil fuels, like gasoline and diesel, release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This contributes to greenhouse gases that are causing the earth's atmosphere to warm, further negatively impacting the climate crisis. Every vroom, every takeoff, every cross-country shipment can increase global warming. Cars and trucks alone account for nearly one-fifth of all US emissions—emitting about 24 pounds, yes, you read that right, of carbon dioxide and other detrimental gases for every gallon of gas. Maybe we will rethink that road trip.    

In a world where faster is better, here are four sustainable transportation trends that are truly influencing how we (and all those online orders) get from point A to B, because there’s no better time than now to leave fossil fuels in the dust.  

Boarding for a better future

Powering pro-climate cars

The electric car race is continuing to heat up—and we aren’t just talking about Elon Musk anymore. More global car companies are committing to making electric vehicles (EV) more attainable and affordable in favor of fueling a cleaner tomorrow. VW is aiming to ambitiously sell 28 million electric cars by 2028, helping to eliminate the carbon emission scandals of years past. To put that number into perspective, that’s about 10% of current card registrations in the U.S. Tesla is touting a “fully autonomous $25,000 small Tesla” closer to 2023/2024. But those aren’t the only two brands looking to rule the market.   

So, why has there been such sticker shock around EVs until now? Batteries. Batteries are the most expensive part of these types of cars (almost one-third of the total consumer price). By cutting battery costs, even more companies can make mainstream electric vehicles that are comparably priced to the gas-guzzling ones. That helps to drive down the cost, making eco-friendly EVs friendlier for everyone’s wallet. Goodbye gas pump, hello charging station!  

Governments are supporting a climate-positive shift

From London to the California coast, global and state governments are tackling the climate crisis by focusing on fossil fuel cars. This sense of urgency around sustainable transportation by government agencies is encouraging—and the pandemic is a perfect example of how fewer gas-powered cars on the road can truly reduce carbon emissions. The first half of 2020 alone saw a decline in CO2 emissions larger than the financial crisis of 2008, the oil crisis of 1979, and even World War II.   

The U.K. is accelerating its timeline to ban the sales of new fossil fuel cars from 2035 to 2030. California announced an executive order that requires sales of all new passenger vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035. In the Golden State alone, transportation is responsible for half of California’s carbon pollution, 80% of smog-forming pollution, and 95% of toxic diesel emissions. No wonder downtown L.A. has that dense, dirty smog on even the sunniest days. With electric vehicle prices going down and heightened awareness from different governments around CO2 emissions, we are positioned to drastically reduce our carbon footprint every time we put the pedal to the battery-powered metal.   

"Prime" time

From those iconic brown boxes to one-day delivery trucks, Amazon’s carbon footprint is massive. The e-commerce giant’s business operations emit over 51.17 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, continually contributing to climate change. But Bezos and his global brand are taking steps in a more sustainable direction starting with transportation—and shipping.   

Partnering with EV startup, Rivian, Amazon recently unveiled its first all-electric delivery van. Not only is the van sleek, but it also has state-of-the-art technology so your packages can ride in some serious sustainable style. Amazon expects to have 10,000 EV vans on the road making deliveries in the next two years, with a total fleet of 100,000 by 2030. This announcement further solidifies Amazon's commitment to becoming carbon-neutral by 2040, strictly running on renewables while helping to mitigate the climate crisis, one order at a time.   

The future of sustainable transportation is here—and it will only get more eco-friendly and futuristic as brands and countries make our planet their priority. At Ando, we are investing in green initiatives, like sustainable transportation, so you have the power to help fund a better, cleaner tomorrow. Pretty cool, huh?