Confronting mobesity is vital for the global electrification of transport

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-024-01559-x.epdf

By Christian Brand

The shift to electric vehicles (EVs) is a crucial step in combating climate change, but there’s a catch—many new EVs are big, heavy, and resource-intensive. This trend, dubbed “mobesity,” could undermine the environmental benefits of electrification. Electric SUVs, while more efficient than gas-powered ones, still require more materials and energy to produce and operate, which increases their overall environmental impact. To truly make a difference, we need smaller, more efficient EVs, along with policies that discourage the production and sale of larger vehicles. Technological innovations in battery design and urban planning that reduce the need for large vehicles are also key. It’s time to tackle mobesity and ensure that the push toward electric transport genuinely helps our planet.