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Traffic in the media. Competing visions from electric cars to a car free future; Liikenne mediassa. Kilpailevat tulevaisuudet saehkoeautosta autottomuuteen

Abstract

This study, based on an analysis of Finnish news media, indicates that the different alternatives for oil dependent transport play a significant role in the energy debate. The study shows that the media discourse holds contested visions of the future and diverging arguments for various transport solutions and their energy use. The analysis covers energy-related articles in five Finnish news papers (Helsingin Sanomat, Kauppalehti, Talouselaemae, Tekniikka and Talous and Vihreae Lanka) during the period of 1.10.-31.12.2009. New technologies, such as electric vehicles and biofuels, challenge the role of predominant oil-dependent car. The need for change is mostly justified by the high level of carbon emissions of personal transportation. The most powerful vision is based on the carbon-free personal automobile. Especially the role of electric vehicles is highlighted as entailing both economic and environmental benefits. The analysis of the media debate shows that changes in transport behavior (e.g. through limited range of electric cars) are viewed as only temporary problems, and that technological development is expected to solve them in time. The strong focus on a limited set of transport visions influences political decisions as well as private and public investments. It also constrains the future prospects of other alternatives. Media  More>>
Authors:
Publication Date:
Oct 15, 2010
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
SYKE-JULK-21/2010
Resource Relation:
Other Information: 101 refs.
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; TRANSPORT; FUEL SUBSTITUTION; ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES; BIOFUELS; SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS; PUBLIC OPINION
OSTI ID:
1007280
Research Organizations:
Finnish Environment Institute, Helsinki (Finland)
Country of Origin:
Finland
Language:
Finnish
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ISBN 978-952-11-3793-8; ISBN 978-952-11-3794-5; TRN: FI1103006
Availability:
Available in fulltext at http://www.ymparisto.fi/download.asp?contentid=122507&lan=fi or from Edita Publishing Oy, P.O.Box 780, 00043 EDITA, Finland, mailto://asiakaspalvelu.publishing@edita.fi
Submitting Site:
FI
Size:
59 p. pages
Announcement Date:
Mar 07, 2011

Citation Formats

Rinkinen, J. Traffic in the media. Competing visions from electric cars to a car free future; Liikenne mediassa. Kilpailevat tulevaisuudet saehkoeautosta autottomuuteen. Finland: N. p., 2010. Web.
Rinkinen, J. Traffic in the media. Competing visions from electric cars to a car free future; Liikenne mediassa. Kilpailevat tulevaisuudet saehkoeautosta autottomuuteen. Finland.
Rinkinen, J. 2010. "Traffic in the media. Competing visions from electric cars to a car free future; Liikenne mediassa. Kilpailevat tulevaisuudet saehkoeautosta autottomuuteen." Finland.
@misc{etde_1007280,
title = {Traffic in the media. Competing visions from electric cars to a car free future; Liikenne mediassa. Kilpailevat tulevaisuudet saehkoeautosta autottomuuteen}
author = {Rinkinen, J}
abstractNote = {This study, based on an analysis of Finnish news media, indicates that the different alternatives for oil dependent transport play a significant role in the energy debate. The study shows that the media discourse holds contested visions of the future and diverging arguments for various transport solutions and their energy use. The analysis covers energy-related articles in five Finnish news papers (Helsingin Sanomat, Kauppalehti, Talouselaemae, Tekniikka and Talous and Vihreae Lanka) during the period of 1.10.-31.12.2009. New technologies, such as electric vehicles and biofuels, challenge the role of predominant oil-dependent car. The need for change is mostly justified by the high level of carbon emissions of personal transportation. The most powerful vision is based on the carbon-free personal automobile. Especially the role of electric vehicles is highlighted as entailing both economic and environmental benefits. The analysis of the media debate shows that changes in transport behavior (e.g. through limited range of electric cars) are viewed as only temporary problems, and that technological development is expected to solve them in time. The strong focus on a limited set of transport visions influences political decisions as well as private and public investments. It also constrains the future prospects of other alternatives. Media data offer a good possibility to analyze how different visions are constructed and how some of them gain more support. This study combines the discourse analytical research method with a socio-technical system perspective. It hereby offers a new approach to the study of the dynamics of path dependence and path creation. (orig.)}
place = {Finland}
year = {2010}
month = {Oct}
}