The last ten years show an increasing attention for the technological potential to reduce the environmental impacts caused by traffic and transport. This paper focuses on the process of development and directing these technological innovations, and gives explicitly attention to the contribution from different disciplines. The evolutionary theory of technology dynamics explains the role of trajectories of technological developments. From the perspective of public policies, the role of the government is analyzed in respect of the stimulation of technological innovations. By using recent experiences in the USA and Japan the need for new forms of cooperation and a more active role of the government is stressed.
Abstract