Advances in transportation technology present us with exciting opportunities to improve safety, expand access, and reduce emissions, but our infrastructure and institutions can struggle to keep pace. Some recent innovations point to this challenge:

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are a promising technology, but without a robust charging network, many people will hesitate to purchase one. And building an EV charging network requires careful planning and coordination across local governments, utilities, and property owners, which takes time. While advances in battery technology are reducing charge times, it is not enough to offset the lack of charging infrastructure.

E-bikes make cycling accessible to more ages and abilities and allow people to travel further and faster than they can with a traditional bike. But they also create challenges, particularly around safety. E-bike riders do not need a license, yet they can reach speeds of 20 mph or more. Many of our roads are not wide enough for buffered or protected bicycle lanes, so riders either share lanes with motor vehicles or sidewalks with pedestrians. And although there are e-bike regulations at the State level, enforcing these laws is difficult given the variety of devices, lack of speedometers on them, and lack of license required.

Fuel Cell Electric Buses (FCEBs) use hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity, which offers more range and better reliability in winter weather than Battery Electric Buses. However, there is currently only one size of FCEB available commercially, and the fueling infrastructure is still being developed – making it an unrealistic option for many transit providers trying to transition to a zero-emission fleet.

Improving our infrastructure and developing regulations are time-intensive processes. Until then, fully integrating new transportation technologies will remain a slow journey.