FEASIBILITY AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS OF ELECTRIC ROAD TRANSPORT IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES BASED ON THE INTEGRAL EMISSIONS INDEX

The aim of this article is to review the development of electric road transport and assess its feasibility in European countries based on an analysis of CO₂ emissions using an integral index. Electric road transport is evolving in three main directions: battery-powered vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and road electrification. Battery electric vehicles are widely used, but their future may be constrained by issues related to cost, charging infrastructure, and raw material availability. Hydrogen-powered vehicles offer fast refueling; however, they require substantial investments and strict safety standards. Road electrification includes both contact and wireless energy transfer systems. Contact-based systems, in particular, provide high power and low energy losses, making them optimal for vehicles with significant energy demands. The environmental efficiency of electric vehicles largely depends on the source of electricity. Countries with a high share of renewable energy, such as Norway and France, demonstrate greater environmental efficiency in electric vehicle adoption. Special attention should be given to road electrification, which reduces the duration of battery-powered autonomous driving and allows for smaller battery sizes, thereby extending their lifespan. This approach not only increases battery longevity but also has a positive environmental impact by reducing emissions associated with battery production and disposal.