In a time of crisis, the necessity to shape the future
In just a matter of months, it’s clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has become the defining global event of a generation. To date, we have lost over 200,000 people worldwide, and stand to lose many more despite humanity’s collective efforts to halt the spread and administer effective treatment. Quite simply, the world will never be the same after this tragedy, nor should it be.
Many have mourned the loss of normalcy in this crisis. Though we still face daunting uncertainties — not knowing when businesses should reopen or when it’s safe to congregate again with our friends and loved ones — we should bear in mind that a return to normalcy should not mean a regression to problematic practices that have become the norm.
At Einride, we are immediately focused on taking care of our employees, their families, and our greater community during this time, but moving forward we have a responsibility to address key societal health and safety challenges in any way we can. We see a necessity to shape the future in the wake of this pandemic, both through technological innovation and the resilience of the human spirit.
Mitigating the deadliness of air pollution through electrification
A recent study showed that across Italy, Spain, France, and Germany, 78% of deaths attributed to COVID-19 occurred in just 5 out of the 66 regions examined, all of which showed the highest levels of air pollution. Numerous studies have also linked common air pollutants from fossil fuels to lung disease and other respiratory illnesses, all of which can be a deadly precursor to contracting COVID-19.
In short, air pollution from fossil fuels is deadly, especially in the midst of a respiratory virus pandemic. Though emission and pollution levels have dropped significantly as hundreds of millions stay at home worldwide, it is urgent that we keep these levels low, and reduce them even further as soon as absolutely possible. Einride’s commitment is to electrify road freight as soon as possible, a goal that if accomplished on a global scale would mean the effective elimination of emissions in this segment, accounting for nearly 7 percent of all emissions worldwide.
The Office of the United Nations Secretary-General also pointed out the recent drop in emissions around the world, but emphasized the importance of delivering on sustainability goals going forward:
“… the drastic reduction in economic activity brought about by the crisis has reduced CO2 emissions and pollution in many areas. Such improvements are destined to be short-lived, unless countries deliver on their commitment to sustainable development once the crisis is over and the global economy restarts.”
Reducing deadly air pollution and achieving our sustainability goals — or delivering on them sooner than expected — is pivotal to coming out of this crisis better off on the other side.
Securing supply chains in times of need through automation
This crisis has also underlined the importance of securing our supply chains, ensuring not only that essential goods get where they need to be frequently and as needed, but also that the chain does not put people in harm’s way unnecessarily. By utilizing autonomous vehicles in our transport networks, we can ensure they are safe, secure, and reliable should future situations like this arise.
As an example, a recent article by the World Economic Forum highlighted the importance of automating supply chains:
“The COVID-19 pandemic has put an incredible strain on global supply chains, from medical supplies to household goods, as spikes in demand stress-test logistics infrastructures. There is an opportunity for unmanned delivery vehicles to assist in addressing this demand and help to reduce the risk of spreading infection.”
Removing the driver from the equation can limit the inadvertent spread of viruses like COVID-19 between different geographical locations, be it cities in Sweden or transit hubs across Europe. No driver on board means fewer contact points in the supply chain, ensuring that goods are only handled at pick-up and drop-off by the parties on site. This also allows us to get essential supplies to critical locations in future situations like this without putting additional people at risk.
Our imperative
Building a better world out of this crisis is a monumental onus for humanity, perhaps greater than any we have seen in nearly a century. It is vital that we all carefully consider our role in this collective effort, and work towards a future that is safer and more sustainable for our communities.
True human ingenuity is forged in the fires of adversity. We will fight the virus, and we may lose battles, but we will win the war. The souls we lost cannot be replaced and will not be forgotten, but to honor them, we must build a better, safer, and more sustainable future with the help of technology.
