Research area
The transportation sector is responsible for about 30% of global energy use, 90% of which is provided by the combustion of petroleum-based products. Some combination of electrification, sustainable fuels, and new energy sources will be needed to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and related carbon dioxide emissions from this sector.
The International Energy Agency predicts that demand for transportation will double by 2070. Car ownership rates are expected to increase by 60%, and the demand for passenger and freight aviation could triple. By 2050, shipping could increase 40%, with continued growth after that. Decarbonizing vehicles, planes, ships, and trains will require a range of technologies, from high-performance batteries for cars and trucks to sustainable aviation fuel for planes and alternate fuels or energy sources such as nuclear reactors for ships. Effective policies, including financial incentives, will also be needed to support this transformation.
MITEI sponsors MIT research that addresses many of these challenges:
Our energy and transportation research complements research led by other MIT centers and labs, including the MIT Mobility Initiative, the Maritime Consortium, and Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment.
In 2019, we completed a three-year study on “Insights into Future Mobility,” which examined potential changes in personal mobility from 2020 to 2050, with particular attention to energy and climate implications, impact for urban areas, and infrastructure considerations. In early 2026, we launched a two-year study entitled, “The Future of Fuels: Pathways to Sustainable Transportation.” The study examines both biofuels and e-fuels and is led by MITEI Director William H. Green.
MITEI enables research that explores replacing fossil fuels used for ground, marine, and air transportation with electrification and sustainable fuels.
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Understanding the future of personal mobility requires an integrated analysis of technology, infrastructure, consumer choice, and government policy.
If we are to reach international goals for limiting temperature rise and other climate change-related impacts, we will need comprehensive climate policies that promote the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles in the transportation sector and simultaneously decarbonize the electricity sector.
