Internal combustion engine (ICE) car bans are in the news, raising questions about their effectiveness as a policy tool. For automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), ICE bans are a strong policy signal that car companies must take action. While policies that promote alternative fuels like biofuels, electricity, and hydrogen can create a competitive market for low carbon fuels, ICE bans are technology-forcing, which theoretically can provide a more decisive market signal.
Read MoreRising tensions between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia over Russian troop buildups on the Ukraine border have raised the specter of an energy crisis in Europe. This new geopolitical context is likely to influence Europe’s calculus going forward, with a high likelihood that a lasting distaste for heavy reliance on Russian gas will give even further impetus to plans to rapidly diversify to cleaner energy sources such as offshore wind and hydrogen. That begs the question: Have Russia’s recent actions hurt its own chances to be a major participant in Europe’s energy transition?
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