In some of the fastest-growing cities, there is a shift happening where the noise from vehicles and crowds is being replaced by a quieter sound from an increasing number of zero-emission vehicles like motorcycles, cars, trucks, and buses.
To speed up the global shift to completely zero-emission vehicles, Drive Electric is introducing the Leapfrogging Partnership with the support of a $100 million investment from the IKEA Foundation over 4 years.
Drive Electric has been working in over 65 countries to promote clean transportation, covering nearly 40% of the world's transportation demand with commitments to shift to 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2050. However, this change is not evenly spread, and the Leapfrogging Partnership aims to improve access to clean and affordable zero-emission vehicles worldwide.
“It is expected that most of the increase in vehicle demand will be in developing countries by 2050, and there is an opportunity for these countries to skip over dirty combustion vehicles and move directly to sustainable, zero-emission transportation in the next few years.Rebecca Fisher, the Program Director of Drive Electric, stated that the initiative is inspired by a future where families primarily use zero-emission vehicles powered by renewable energy.
The Leapfrogging Partnership has the support of the IKEA Foundation. the IKEA Foundation, a strategic philanthropy with over 140 partners focused on tackling poverty and climate change. Edgar van de Brug, Head of the Real Economy Portfolio, stated that decarbonizing road transportation is crucial to reducing overall society decarbonization and the Leapfrogging Partnership will focus on accelerating the transition to electric vehicles in emerging markets.The initiative aims to help in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.”
The leadership of emerging markets already recognizes the benefits of electric vehicles, which help local economies, improve air quality, contribute to climate goals, and support a fair transition.
Governments, businesses, and communities in emerging markets are showing great innovation and ambition in promoting zero-emission vehicles, which drives local economies, helps achieve climate goals, and supports a just transition.
“Emerging economies face challenges in transitioning to clean transport, however, they have shown leadership in this area.Sebastián Galarza, Executive Director of Centro de Movilidad Sostenible in Chile, noted that Santiago de Chile has a large fleet of battery electric buses outside of China. The country has set ambitious targets to improve fuel economy and needs support to achieve these goals, especially in regions rich in minerals for clean energy transition. The Leapfrogging Partnership will enhance Drive Electric’s efforts with partners in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. It will support the next generation of country leaders in zero-emission transportation, promote scalable solutions at regional and country levels, and expand global platforms to include leaders from emerging economies in the public, private, and civil society sectors.The Campaign has formed partnerships with leaders in emerging markets working in e-mobility modes with our(Leapfrogging to E-mobility Acceleration Partnership), which aims to advance transportation electrification. Over the past three years, the LEAP Fund has tripled in size, distributing $3.4 million to 23 global partners. The Leapfrogging Partnership will incorporate this work into an expanded strategy that supports more partners to adopt Drive Electric’s transformative approach.”
More effort is required to support a fair global transition, and we see potential for the next wave of clean transportation pioneers in Brazil, Chile, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, and South Africa,
” shared Fisher. “ LEAP Fund These countries have a strong mix of commitments to a clean energy transition, political will for climate-smart development policies, and favorable underlying economic and industrial development conditions.
“Addressing the global EV gap to reduce emissionsMore than half of global oil demand comes from road transportation, which is a rapidly growing source of carbon emissions in many countries in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Decarbonizing transportation is crucial to decarbonizing society. Without further action, there is a risk of a growing gap where incumbent industries continue to profit from polluting vehicles in emerging markets. According to analysis by BloombergNEF, the gap between leading and emerging markets could be as much as 45% by 2040 in terms of the share of vehicle fleets made up of EVs. Perpetuating polluting vehicles has real-world impacts, including worsening air quality in the world’s fastest-growing cities, and puts a safe climate at risk.By addressing one of the largest sources of global emissions, we can drive significant change. An accelerated transition to EVs can save governments and people money, enable new business opportunities, and create new jobs across the EV and clean energy supply chains. According to Carbon Tracker, a Drive Electric partner, switching to battery-powered vehicles will”
save over $100 billion
annually across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia by cutting fuel import taxes and costs.
Accelerating zero-emission transportation for all The Leapfrogging Partnership aims to transition the entire global road transport sector by ensuring emerging economies have access to clean, zero-emission vehicles of all types — including buses, trucks, cars, and 2- and 3- wheelers. The goal is to leapfrog over dirty combustion vehicles as their fleets expand in the coming years. The vision is for growing cities that are building out transit systems to purchase fully electric bus fleets. It also aims for businesses and entrepreneurs wanting to lead this transition to have sufficient access to finance and peer networks. EVs are envisioned to make it easier and more cost-effective to rapidly expand renewable power by providing flexibility to the grid. The ultimate aim is for emerging economies to continue growing sustainably and cleanly, and for the health and environmental benefits of electric road transportation to be felt and accessed by all. This project is a chance to bring this idea to life, and we are excited for your collaboration in creating a fairer world and a safer environment.
In the urban areas of certain rapidly-expanding cities, a significant change is happening. When the sun comes up, the usual noise of car horns and busy crowds is accompanied…
The Leapfrogging Partnership is inspired by the opportunity to transition the entire global road transport sector by ensuring emerging economies have access to clean, zero-emission vehicles of all types — including buses, trucks, cars, and 2- and 3- wheelers — and can leapfrog over dirty combustion vehicles as their fleets expand in the coming years. We envision a future where growing cities that are building out transit systems are able to purchase fully electric bus fleets. Where businesses and entrepreneurs that want to lead this transition have adequate access to finance and peer networks. Where EVs can make it easier and more cost-effective to rapidly expand renewable power by providing flexibility to the grid. Where emerging economies can continue to grow sustainably and cleanly. And where the health and environmental benefits of electric road transportation can be felt and accessed by all.
This work is an opportunity to make this vision a reality, and we look forward to your partnership in building a more just world and a safer climate.
