Divergent imaginings: Transitioning to decarbonised mobility in ‘post-coalonial’ County Durham

Anyadike-Danes, Chima Michael

Abstract

What happens when the various parties involved in constructing decarbonised futures’ infrastructure diverge in their imaginaries? Much of the published research on the sociotechnical imaginaries relating to electric vehicles (EVs) describes the creation of the future of decarbonised transport as a process mired in conflict, with various interested parties represented as strenuously disagreeing in their assessment of the most efficacious solution. The aim of the article is to offer an alternative account, based upon data gathered through participant observation, interviews, and grey literature. It describes the sort of personal transportation futures currently being imagined in the United Kingdom. The focus is specifically on the installation of electric vehicle charge points. The author contrasts Whitehall’s national vision for this infrastructure with the ‘post-coalonial’ vision of officers of Durham County Council in North East England have articulated an alternative, a ‘post-coalonial’ vision, and finds that the vision of both the British civil service and Government of the United Kingdom focused on private ownership and commuting, while Durham County Council envisioned publicly accessible charge points that enabled various types of different journeys. Despite the striking differences the conclusion is that contrary to the findings of previous studies the existence of these divergent infrastructural imaginaries led not to conflict but to co-existence.

Citation

Anyadike-Danes, C. M. (online). Divergent imaginings: Transitioning to decarbonised mobility in ‘post-coalonial’ County Durham. Norwegian Journal of Geography, https://doi.org/10.1080/00291951.2024.2418300

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 14, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Nov 13, 2024
• Deposit Date: Nov 14, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 14, 2024
• Journal: Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift - Norwegian Journal of Geography
• Print ISSN: 0029-1951
• Electronic ISSN: 1502-5292
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00291951.2024.2418300
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3094538