Ecological Expediency and Economic Problems of the Fuel Transition of Cars

Abstract

The vehicle fuel market are of high interest to many actors. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively identify the environmental feasibility and existing economic problems in the distribution of certain automobile fuels, to identify the fuel transition stakeholders and their influence on ongoing structural changes in the market. The study uses statistical data on the popularity of vehicles and certain fuels, as well as accounting and stock indicators of car manufacturers. Econometric methods, methods of financial statistics were used; regulatory impact analysis and content analysis of regulatory legal acts were carried out. In the course of the work, consumer, environmental and economic characteristics of different types of automobile fuel are systematized. It is shown that the prevalence of both more and less environmentally friendly fuels, both in the past and in the present, is explained primarily by the dominant economic interests of the actors rather than environmental ones. The complexity of coordination of interests in the fuel sphere and the gradual limitation of the possibility of opportunistic influence on the market of coalitions of interests are revealed. The directions of environmental standards adjustment for transport, measures and tools to increase the popularity of certain alternative fuels and reduce the exploitation of personal cars are proposed, with special attention paid to the specifics of the Russian market. The novelty of the study are the definition of environmental feasibility, distribution trends and existing problems associated with automotive fuels, taking into account a broad retrospective, natural and climatic and socio-economic characteristics of countries. Theoretical significance lies in identifying the role of environmental and economic interests in the past and ongoing fuel transitions. Of practical value are recommendations for solving existing environmental problems and ensuring the fuel transition in the world and the Russia, in particular.