Background
Modern society is built upon a range of large technological infrastructure systems that have developed over time. Along the way, the expansion and function of infrastructure has become so complex that it has evolved into systems of infrastructure. It is not often that such large infrastructure systems change, and altering such established systems can be a formidable challenge. The electrification of transportation is one such change.
Active use of policy instruments has made the Norwegian vehicle market a leader in the global transformation currently underway, and the outcome will have significant implications for both the transportation and energy systems. This also means that there is currently much to be learned by understanding the changes and integration of zero-emission vehicles in Norway. The introduction of new technology does not happen suddenly, uniformly across the country, or uniformly for all social groups in society. The geographical effects of introducing new technology affect the possibility, speed, and cost of achieving a zero-emission society.
About the project
The project will analyse the state's role as a "system builder" in establishing a new technological system. The role of the public sector has varied in both size and degree of active involvement. Such "infrastructure systems" are of a distributive nature and closely linked to questions of social distribution and geography. The electrification of transportation is based on the introduction of a new energy system into the existing transportation system. Drawing on system theory within technology and science studies, I utilise recent theoretical developments of justice perspectives related to both energy and infrastructure to understand the state's positioning and role in the transformation of the transportation sector.
The project will employ a qualitative method, using document analysis and interviews.
This is a doctoral project carried out by Daniel Molin.
Collaboration
The project is based on a collaboration between the Norwegian Environment Directorate and the Department of Sociology and Human Geography at the University of Oslo.