14Jul

Climate activists are making the push for a greener economy. With more hybrid and electric vehicles on the market, countries around the world have been setting deadlines to stop the sale of gas-powered vehicles in the next two decades. Some city centers like Amsterdam will even ban gasoline and diesel vehicles from their streets entirely. 

It is no surprise that Techlantic has seen a significant increase in the last year of hybrid and full electric vehicles requested for export.  Not only are they required for some importing countries but many overseas drivers are simply starting to prefer them over their gas alternatives.   Exporting New and Used Teslas to Asia, Europe and Middle East is something that we have participated with, but with the increasing variety of alternatives with vehicles like the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning, new market opportunities for redistribution are emerging.  

Although the vehicle emissions are being reduced, moving them around the world has not seen a significant reduction in emissions.  Even though the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning will be a zero-emissions propulsion vehicle, exporting the vehicles from Canada to China will still make a large carbon footprint.  

Although marine shipping is the most energy efficient way to move large volumes of cargo, the shipping industry accounts for 2.2% of the world’s total CO2 emissions (according to data from 2012). As shipping continues to increase and other sources of greenhouse gas decrease, the relative contribution of the shipping industry is on the rise and will hopefully be a target of innovation.  

One such innovation that has potential is the zero emissions boat by Samsung Heavy Industries.  Samsung is involved with a joint research and development project with the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) to create nuclear-powered ships.  This technology is not a new concept and has in fact been used in vessels before – particularly as part of the world’s navies. But due to economics and general safety fears of nuclear power its use for commercial shipping lost steam in the 1950s.  

The molten salt reactor (MSR) Samsung is exploring would have the same life span – approximately 20 years – as the life of the vessel it powers, so the ship would never need to refuel! The reactor is smaller, cheaper, and safer than the weapons grade material used aboard naval ships so many of the past concerns are well on their way to being addressed. 

This may just be the solution to carbon-neutral shipping and we hope that someday some of the electric vehicles we export around the globe will make it on this ship.  The first prototype is set to start trials in 2025 so we have a few years to wait to see how it develops.  Until then we will have to settle for driving electric vehicles like the Mustang Mach-E to start making a dent in greenhouse gas emissions.  If you’re interested in the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, 2021 Mach-E or other electric vehicles reach out to Sales@Techlantic.com for more information. Car exporting can be a seamless and profitable business with the right team on your side.