<b>On the feasibility of the zero-carbon target for vehicle traffic in 2050</b>

To achieve the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C, 2050 was declared the year of zero carbon. For global road traffic with passenger cars, the goal means avoiding 3,200 million tons (Mt) of CO₂ annually. This study examines in 30 countries whether and how the zero-carbon target can be achieved by 2050 with the promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) and/or the decarbonization of electricity generation. While an extrapolation of historical data only leads to the target in a few countries by 2050, a combination of replacing all combustion engines with electric drives and a switch to CO₂-free electricity could lead to zero-carbon traffic. However, this is contradicted by the enormous number of electric vehicles to be sold until 2050, which the market cannot absorb due to saturation tendencies. Necessary actions are discussed.