Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - REM 355 D100

Sustainable Transportation for a Zero-Emissions World (3)

Class Number: 3146

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Tue, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 8, 2025
    Mon, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units or permission of instructor.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores the transportation system and how to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as well as other sustainability goals. Topics include zero-emissions vehicles, low-carbon fuels, shared mobility, vehicle automation, and reduced vehicle use. An interdisciplinary approach is followed, including analyses of environmental and resource impacts, consumer behaviour, systems, technology change, and climate policy.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course explores the sustainability of the transportation sector in Canada and globally, including greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, and social impacts. We look at past trends in motor vehicle use and technology development to better understand present and likely future impacts. The course is interdisciplinary by design, drawing from the field of resource management to integrate insights from environmental science, public policy and ecological economics, as well as basic principles from engineering, consumer psychology, and sociology. We consider three categories of transportation transformation (or “three legs of the stool”), including transitions to: low-carbon fuels, more efficient technology, and reduced motor vehicle use. Skills to be developed include understanding and integration of concepts from environment, policy and economics, as well as specific methods such as lifecycle impact analysis and multi-criteria policy evaluation. Applications include the topics of electric mobility, biofuels, hydrogen, automated vehicles, and car-sharing. The objective of the course is to provide a broad understanding of these transportation issues, to develop methods and perspectives to evaluate these issues, and to develop and analyze strategies for improving the sustainability of the transportation sector.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Once you complete this course, you will be able to:

1. Explain trends in Canada’s transportation sector according to economic, consumer, and cultural perspectives.

2. Explain the role of the transportation sector in major modern environmental problems in Canada and globally, including climate change and air quality.

3. Explain the three categories of transportation transformation (vehicles, fuels and travel demand), and identify technologies and practices that can reduce the environmental impacts of each.

4. Evaluate and compare transportation policies relating to environmental and energy goals.

5. Apply course concepts to a variety of transportation topics, including alternative fuels, automated vehicles, car sharing, freight and urban development.

6. Develop collaborative, interdisciplinary learning and thinking skills.

7. Demonstrate the level of respect and organization expected in the workforce.

Grading

  • Participation 15%
  • Assignments 35%
  • Exams 50%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Sperling, Daniel (2018). Three Revolutions: Steering Automated, Shared and Electric Vehicles to a Better Future, Island Press, ISBN: 9781610919050, url: https://islandpress.org/books/three-revolutions. PDFs of the book and individual chapters are available for download for SFU students here: https://link.springer.com/book/10.5822/978-1-61091-906-7
ISBN: 9781610919050

A number of online (electronic) readings will be uploaded to the course website, including book chapters, reports and journal articles. The syllabus and website clearly differentiate between required and optional readings (the latter may be useful for the assignment).

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.