Geopolitics of transport: Impact of electric vehicles on global geopolitical order

Nafta je energent, ki že vse od začetka prejšnjega stoletja kroji svetovno geopolitično sliko sveta. Z razmahom motorja z notranjim izgorevanjem in motornih vozil je postala strateški energijski vir, ki še danes poganja večino svetovnega prometa. V zadnjih desetletjih smo tako bili priča številnim državnim sporom, mednarodnim krizam in celo vojnam zaradi tega energenta. Tehnološki razvoj, podnebne spremembe ter pojav alternativnih energijskih virov pa bi lahko vplivali na svetovni pomen nafte. Danes smo tako priča ponovnemu vstajenju električne mobilnosti, ki dobiva nov zagon in bi lahko ob nadaljnji rasti resno ogrozila primat nafte kot edinega strateškega energijskega vira na tem področju. Večina držav, ki so bile v zadnjih desetletjih odvisne od uvoza, je tudi sama podprla proces elektrifikacije, kar še dodatno povečuje težo in hitrost le-te. Primeri iz preteklosti pa nas svarijo, da novosti na trgu rastejo eksponentno. V diplomskem delu sem poskušal analizirati, kakšne bodo geopolitične posledice elektrifikacije cestnega prometa ter kdo bodo največji zmagovalci in poraženci nove geopolitične ureditve na tem področju.Oil is an energy source that has controlled the destiny of the world geopolitical sphere from the beginning of the previous century. With the increasing use of internal-combustion engine and motor vehicles, oil has become a strategic energy source, used in the majority of vehicles across the world. In the last two decades, this energy caused several civil conflicts, international crises and even wars. However, technological development, climate changes and the discovery of alternative energy sources could affect its global importance. Today, we can witness the resurrection of electric mobility, which is gaining new impetus and the further growth of which could seriously threaten oil\u27s leading position as the only strategic energy source in this field. Most of the countries, depending on oil import for the last few decades, have expressed support to the electrification process, which additionally increases its importance and speed. According to the examples from the past, novelties in the market have an exponential growth. This paper tries to analyse the geopolitical consequences of electrification of the transport system as well as to identify the winners and losers of the new geopolitical order in this field