Transport and environment report 2022: Digitalisation in the mobility system — Opportunities and challenges
About this book
The European Environment Agency's Transport and Environment Report 2022 focuses on the transformative role of digitalisation in the mobility system — specifically how data-driven technologies, automation, and connected infrastructure are reshaping transport's environmental footprint across European Union member states. This edition of the annual EEA transport report arrives at a pivotal moment: the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package have set binding targets requiring a 55% reduction in new car CO₂ emissions by 2030 and carbon-neutral road transport by 2035 through the end of internal combustion engine sales. The report begins by establishing the baseline: transport remains the only major sector in the EU where greenhouse gas emissions have not declined from 1990 levels, with road transport contributing approximately three-quarters of the sector total.
Aviation and maritime shipping, partially excluded from earlier climate frameworks, are increasingly brought within the scope of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), and the report examines the implications of these regulatory changes for modal shares and investment patterns. A central theme is the digitalisation paradox: while connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technologies, ride-hailing platforms, and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) frameworks offer significant efficiency gains through route optimisation, reduced empty running, and shared occupancy, they also risk inducing additional demand — the rebound effect — if not combined with demand management instruments such as road pricing and parking policies. The report analyses data on electric vehicle (EV) market penetration across EU member states, noting the wide variation from Nordic countries with over 20% EV market share to central and eastern European markets below 2%.
Infrastructure investment requirements for public charging networks are quantified, and the relationship between charging infrastructure density and EV adoption rates is explored. The role of smart charging in demand response and grid balancing is highlighted as a key enabling technology. Urban freight logistics receives dedicated analysis.
The report examines how e-commerce growth during the pandemic has driven a surge in last-mile delivery activity, increasing light commercial vehicle kilometres in city centres and offsetting efficiency gains from electrification of larger vehicles. Micro-mobility solutions — cargo bicycles, electric cargo bikes — are presented as viable alternatives for urban deliveries below 30 kg. The report concludes by mapping digitalisation's potential contribution to EU Green Deal transport targets: real-time emissions monitoring, digital tachographs for freight, multimodal travel information systems, and data-sharing frameworks that allow public authorities to shape private mobility patterns through incentives and regulation.