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Ertelt, Sophie-MarieORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0003-0309-122x
Publications (10 of 16) Show all publications
Ertelt, S.-M. (2025). Next exit: Net-zero? Transition acceleration challenges in hard-to-abate industries: The case of heavy-duty freight transport. (Doctoral dissertation). Örebro: Örebro University
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Next exit: Net-zero? Transition acceleration challenges in hard-to-abate industries: The case of heavy-duty freight transport
2025 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This thesis investigates net-zero transition acceleration challenges in hard-to-abate industries, focusing on heavy-duty freight transport. It examines how incumbent actors, carbon lock-in, and systemic inertia shape decarbonisation progress, which is less likely to result from Schumpeterian creative destruction and more dependent on the reconfiguration of existing socio-technical systems. This recon-figuration perspective forms the theoretical foundation of the thesis and extends to examine the conditions and mechanisms of endogenous socio-technical change processes.

The research integrates organisational studies into transitions research to analyse five acceleration challenges: whole systems change, multi-system dynamics, decline and resistance, shifts in demand patterns, and governance. Empirical insights come from case studies of the European heavy-duty vehicle sector and Swedish electrification and Circular Economy initiatives. Using a multi-method and mixed-method approach, the thesis combines interviews, surveys, and secondary data analysis to examine these challenges for heavy-duty freight transport.

This research offers theoretical contributions to better capture system reconfigurations and the role of incumbents in such processes. It also informs the conceptualisation of three additional acceleration challenges and proposes actionable insights for policymakers, including integrated, multi-system governance approaches and sufficiency-oriented decarbonisation planning.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Örebro: Örebro University, 2025. p. 399
Series
Örebro Studies in Business - Dissertations, ISSN 1654-8841 ; 21
Keywords
Net-zero transitions, hard-to-abate industries, heavy-duty road freight, acceleration challenges, transition governance
National Category
Business Administration
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-118732 (URN)9789175296302 (ISBN)9789175296319 (ISBN)
Public defence
2025-03-14, Örebro universitet, Långhuset, Hörsal L1, Fakultetsgatan 1, Örebro, 10:00 (Swedish)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2025-01-21 Created: 2025-01-21 Last updated: 2025-02-19Bibliographically approved
Ertelt, S.-M. & Hawxwell, T. (2025). The polysemous nature of the German Verkehrswende-Exploring the role of floating signifiers in shaping mobility futures. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 55, Article ID 100963.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>The polysemous nature of the German Verkehrswende-Exploring the role of floating signifiers in shaping mobility futures
2025 (English)In: Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, ISSN 2210-4224, E-ISSN 2210-4232, Vol. 55, article id 100963Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The German transportation sector's negative contribution to climate change amongst broader social, environmental, and economic problems is applying evermore pressure to the prevailing automobility regime to bring about its transformation. However, the vision of this transition, referred to as the Verkehrswende or Mobilita<spacing diaeresis>tswende, is highly contested, with varying conceptions of different actors about the future of mobility in Germany. A discourse network analysis (DNA) is performed to examine the development of the related policy debate, identify key problem and solution framings and analyse the overall discourse evolution from 2018 to mid-2023. The findings highlight how recent exogenous events shape and reframe the discourse, inciting debates around viable mobility futures. Further, our analysis uncovers a novel discursive strategy termed repugnostic framing, through which incumbent actors aim to oppose the framings of other discursive agents, leading to increased lines of conflict and polarisation, thus possibly hindering effective policy implementation.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2025
Keywords
Mobility transition, Transport sector, Discourse network analysis, Discursive framing struggles, Floating signifier
National Category
Civil Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-119264 (URN)10.1016/j.eist.2025.100963 (DOI)001412735400001 ()2-s2.0-85216070650 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2025-02-17 Created: 2025-02-17 Last updated: 2025-02-17Bibliographically approved
Ertelt, S.-M. (2024). Beyond predict and provide: Embracing sufficiency synergies in road freight electrification across the European Union. Energy Research & Social Science, 111, Article ID 103498.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Beyond predict and provide: Embracing sufficiency synergies in road freight electrification across the European Union
2024 (English)In: Energy Research & Social Science, ISSN 2214-6296, E-ISSN 2214-6326, Vol. 111, article id 103498Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The challenge of aligning with the net-zero ambitions of the European Union necessitates a critical examination of the road freight transport sector, a pivotal contributor to global commerce and greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the sector's potential for electrification to mitigate emissions, the prevailing 'predict and provide' planning approach may inadvertently reduce this low-carbon transition to mere technological substitution, neglecting deeper intrinsic transport issues. This perspective critiques the 'predict and provide' approach and advocates for the adoption of 'sufficiency-oriented planning'. It presents a comprehensive, interconnected approach, challenging not only the technology in use but also the foundational principles of transport demand. Furthermore, it explores the broader implications of this multi-system transition for the energy sector. The perspective consequently underscores the necessity of a paradigm shift in planning for road freight transport electrification for the sector to genuinely contribute to sustainability objectives and not risk diminishing the transformative potential of this transition.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2024
Keywords
Road freight transport, Electrification, Suffi ciency, Multi-system transition, Transport planning
National Category
Civil Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-113141 (URN)10.1016/j.erss.2024.103498 (DOI)001195481700001 ()2-s2.0-85186473082 (Scopus ID)
Note

This work has been supported by funding from the Stiftelsen f¨orkunskaps- och kompetensutveckling, grant number 20220207-H-0.

Available from: 2024-04-15 Created: 2024-04-15 Last updated: 2024-04-15Bibliographically approved
Ertelt, S.-M., Rezvani, Z., Klézl, V. & Kask, J. (2024). From policy mix to pavement: Exploring individual actor-internal factors in zero-emission truck adoption. Journal of Cleaner Production, 471, Article ID 143427.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>From policy mix to pavement: Exploring individual actor-internal factors in zero-emission truck adoption
2024 (English)In: Journal of Cleaner Production, ISSN 0959-6526, E-ISSN 1879-1786, Vol. 471, article id 143427Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Despite regulatory efforts and market availability, the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the road freight sector is limited. This paper investigates the influence of managers' policy mix perceptions on the uptake of ZEVs in Sweden. Based on a survey of transport operation managers, we analyse the interaction between their perceptions of how technology-neutral the prevailing policy mix is, the anticipated regret of premature technology adoption, the rate of technology change and their mutual influence on the decision to delay ZEV adoption. The study's findings reveal a positive correlation between managers' perceptions of technology neutrality and adoption delay. We further explain the mechanism in this relationship by confirming that anticipated regret mediates the positive correlation between perceived technology neutrality and the ZEV adoption delay decision: The more technology-neutral the policy mix is perceived, the more anticipating regret over adopting ZEVs is expressed by the managers, which, in turn, increases the likelihood to delay ZEV adoption. Moreover, managers' perceptions of the rate of technological change affect their anticipated regret. The work contributes to the transition literature by unveiling how a specific policy mix perception, namely technology neutrality, could delay the adoption of ZEVs and calls for a nuanced re-evaluation of the current policy mix to facilitate a faster transition towards net-zero goals. It also underscores the importance of paying closer attention to how individual actor-internal factors (such as perceptions and emotions) of individual decision-makers in organisations may influence transition processes.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2024
Keywords
Policy mix perceptions, Sustainable freight transport, Zero-emission vehicles, Anticipated regret, Innovation adoption, Emotions
National Category
Business Administration
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-115909 (URN)10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.143427 (DOI)001301506100001 ()2-s2.0-85201745259 (Scopus ID)
Note

This work has been supported by funding from the Stiftelsen for kunskaps-och kompetensutveckling, grant number 20220207-H-0.

Available from: 2024-09-12 Created: 2024-09-12 Last updated: 2024-09-12Bibliographically approved
Ertelt, S.-M. & Kask, J. (2024). Home field advantage: examining incumbency reorientation dynamics in low-carbon transitions. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 50, Article ID 100802.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Home field advantage: examining incumbency reorientation dynamics in low-carbon transitions
2024 (English)In: Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, ISSN 2210-4224, E-ISSN 2210-4232, Vol. 50, article id 100802Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Recent work has offered a more nuanced view of incumbent actors' roles in transitions, yet a comprehensive understanding of how reorientation activities and subsequent interaction patterns among different incumbent actor types shape the direction of system reconfigurations remains underexplored. This paper proposes a framework for empirically assessing actors' relational dynamics in response to low-carbon transitions and conceptualises actor interaction types and the nature of their interaction. Through a case study of the low-carbon transition of road freight transport in Sweden, we examine how reorientation dynamics, e.g., coalitions, competition, and contestations, can facilitate and hinder system reconfigurations by creating regime tensions. Our study highlights that incumbency reorientations are multi-dimensional, with actor involvement and strategies varying, leading to divergent actor positions and role constellations as actors attempt to reconfigure the focal regime. Extending beyond the Swedish case, five avenues for future research are outlined.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2024
Keywords
Low-carbon transition, Incumbency, System reconfigurations, Regime change, Multi-system interactions
National Category
Civil Engineering Economics and Business
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-110808 (URN)10.1016/j.eist.2023.100802 (DOI)001157525900001 ()2-s2.0-85181904597 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Region Örebro County
Available from: 2024-01-18 Created: 2024-01-18 Last updated: 2024-02-26Bibliographically approved
Ertelt, S.-M. & Kask, J. (2023). Home field advantage: examining incumbency reorientation dynamics in low-carbon transitions. In: : . Paper presented at NTRANS Workshop: Exploring multi-system phenomena in net-zero transitions, Hurdal, Norway, May 11-12, 2023.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Home field advantage: examining incumbency reorientation dynamics in low-carbon transitions
2023 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Other academic)
National Category
Economics and Business Civil Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-110521 (URN)
Conference
NTRANS Workshop: Exploring multi-system phenomena in net-zero transitions, Hurdal, Norway, May 11-12, 2023
Available from: 2023-12-21 Created: 2023-12-21 Last updated: 2024-01-09Bibliographically approved
Ertelt, S.-M. & Kask, J. (2023). Home field advantage: examining incumbency reorientation dynamics in low-carbon transitions. In: : . Paper presented at Beyond crisis / Beyond normal, NTNU Energy Team Society Conference, Trondheim, Norway, September 27-28, 2023.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Home field advantage: examining incumbency reorientation dynamics in low-carbon transitions
2023 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Other academic)
National Category
Economics and Business Civil Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-110523 (URN)
Conference
Beyond crisis / Beyond normal, NTNU Energy Team Society Conference, Trondheim, Norway, September 27-28, 2023
Available from: 2023-12-21 Created: 2023-12-21 Last updated: 2024-01-09Bibliographically approved
Ertelt, S.-M., Rezvani, Z. & Klézl, V. (2023). Innovating towards net zero with technology-neutral policy: Promising principle or problematic policy design practice?. In: Eu-SPRI Annual Conference 2023: Research with Impact: Book of Abstracts. Paper presented at Eu-SPRI Annual Conference, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK, June 14-16, 2023 (pp. 109-109).
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Innovating towards net zero with technology-neutral policy: Promising principle or problematic policy design practice?
2023 (English)In: Eu-SPRI Annual Conference 2023: Research with Impact: Book of Abstracts, 2023, p. 109-109Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

This paper investigates the potential tensions that may arise between technology-neutral innovation policy and the advancement of sustainability-related objectives, specifically in the context of road freight transport. Despite the availability of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and regulatory actions, widespread adoption of ZEVs among transport operators has been slow. To shed light on potential reasons for this, the paper examines the relationship between perceived technology neutrality of existing policies, contestations over future technological pathways, and anticipated regret on innovation adoption intentions of transport operators with a survey. The findings suggest that technology-neutral policies may contribute to increased uncertainties over future technology pathways and anticipated regret over adoption decisions which may make transport operators hesitant to invest in already available ZEVs. The paper contributes, therefore, to innovation policy development by high-lighting the need to reconsider the principle of technological neutrality and calls for caution when implementing such policies, as it underscores the importance of considering sector-specific challenges and uncertainties when designing effective sustainability-oriented innovation policies.

National Category
Engineering and Technology Business Administration
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-110522 (URN)
Conference
Eu-SPRI Annual Conference, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK, June 14-16, 2023
Available from: 2023-12-21 Created: 2023-12-21 Last updated: 2024-01-09Bibliographically approved
Ertelt, S.-M., de los Rios Pérez, D. A. & Lyly, N. (2023). Looking for impact: a critical review of the Sustainability Transition research field's contributions to the SDGs. In: : . Paper presented at 14th International Sustainability Transitions Conference (IST), University of Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands, August 30 - September 1, 2023.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Looking for impact: a critical review of the Sustainability Transition research field's contributions to the SDGs
2023 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Refereed)
National Category
Business Administration
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-110524 (URN)
Conference
14th International Sustainability Transitions Conference (IST), University of Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands, August 30 - September 1, 2023
Available from: 2023-12-21 Created: 2023-12-21 Last updated: 2024-01-09Bibliographically approved
Ertelt, S.-M. & Klézl, V. (2022). Evaluating the feasibility of circular charging ecosystems (CCE's) for transport operators. In: : . Paper presented at 9th International Workshop on Sustainable Road Freight, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK (Online conference), December 12-14, 2022    .
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Evaluating the feasibility of circular charging ecosystems (CCE's) for transport operators
2022 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation only (Refereed)
National Category
Business Administration
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-103014 (URN)
Conference
9th International Workshop on Sustainable Road Freight, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK (Online conference), December 12-14, 2022    
Available from: 2023-01-10 Created: 2023-01-10 Last updated: 2023-01-11Bibliographically approved
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ORCID iD: ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0003-0309-122x

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