2. Electrified and Alternative Propulsion Technologies Toward Net-Zero Carbon Emissions

Climate change is a challenging task to be faced on a global scale, and specific actions are needed to mitigate it. The reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is the main pillar in this context. International policies are in charge of reducing the carbon intensity of modern technological society. Consequently, different technologies and solutions are being developed to achieve this objective in all sectors, from energy and manufacturing to transport. In particular, electrification, renewable liquid fuels, and hydrogen technologies can effectively contribute to higher energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions. The global assessment of those technologies in a unique and comprehensive study of the transport sector is somewhat complicated. In this context, this chapter provides, through a literature review, a comprehensive analysis of different propulsion technologies capable of reducing the carbon footprint in the transport sector. In particular, renewable fuels, energy storage, and propulsion technologies are analyzed, including the most recent advancements in the specific sectors. The analysis includes global costs, warming potential, and propulsion system applicability in different applications.