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X Shore 1 electric boat

Dezeen's top 10 sustainable transport designs of 2022

After a year that saw designers come up with numerous ideas for how to decarbonise transport, we round up 10 of the most interesting as part of our review of 2022.

Transport accounts for around a fifth of global carbon dioxide emissions and has the highest reliance on fossil fuels of any sector, according to the International Energy Agency.

Ranging from concepts to products set for mass manufacture, the designs featured in this list seek to reduce emissions from cars, planes, boats or motorbikes and to boost cycling.

Read on for Dezeen's top 10 sustainable transport designs of 2022:


Pendler e-bike concept by Layer design studio
Image courtesy of Layer

Pendler by Layer

This concept electric bike from design studio Layer, which aims to tackle the pain points of urban commuting, has a distinctive U-shaped frame, a concealed motor and detachable timber accessories.

Designed with a "crafted" aesthetic, the Pendler is intended to provide built-in solutions to the challenges associated with city cycling, such as storage, fitting the bike on public transport and navigating traffic.

Find out more about Pendler ›


A Multi-Utility Farming Vehicle in a wheat field with a drone flying above
Image by Madhav Dua

Arrival Multi-Utility Farming Vehicle by Madhav Dua

Indian designer Madhav Dua came up with an idea for a multifunctional, customisable electric tractor that would make modern tools more affordable to Indian farmers, making agriculture more efficient.

It also features solar panels that provide energy to a mobile electricity reserve that could be used to power farmers' homes.

The concept won first place in Dezeen's Future Mobility Competition, a global design contest powered by electric vehicle brand Arrival.

 Find out more about Arrival Multi-Utility Farming Vehicle ›


X Shore 1 electric boat
Photo courtesy of X Shore

X Shore 1 by X Shore

In a bid to bring electric boats to a wider audience, Swedish company X Shore launched this model that it says is priced competitively with fossil-fuel vessels.

To reduce costs, the 6.5-metre-long boat was made light and efficient enough that it only needs a single battery to run, also reducing its carbon footprint.

Find out more about X Shore 1 ›


Lightyear 0 on a desert road
Photo courtesy of Lightyear

Lightyear 0 by Lightyear

Dubbed the "world's first production-ready" solar-powered car when launched this year, the Lightyear 0 is an electric car that has photovoltaic panels covering its roof, bonnet and boot to charge its battery while driving.

In an interview with Dezeen, the chief executive of the Dutch startup Lightyear Emanuele Cornagliotti predicted that solar cars will be "normal within 20 years".

Find out more about Lightyear ›


The Domus trimaran, the "world's first zero-emission superyacht", features in today's Dezeen Agenda newsletter
Image courtesy of Van Geest Design and Rob Doyle Design

Domus by Van Geest Design and Rob Doyle Design

While X Shore was exploring how to make electric boats more affordable, yacht design studios Van Geest Design and Rob Doyle Design were working on a concept for a luxury trimaran that is "truly zero-emission".

The 40-metre Domus would be powered by a combination of hydrogen fuel cells, hydro generation and solar energy.

UK architecture studio Zaha Hadid was also looking at electric yachts this year, presenting its concept for the photovoltaic-covered Oneiric at Milan design week.

Find out more about Domus ›


Man cycling in front of a tram in Milan, illustrating a news story about the planned Cambio cycling network in Milan
Photo by Mikita Yo

Cambio by the city of Milan

A key aspect of decarbonising transport is encouraging people to take more of their journeys by bike, with many cities coming up with plans to become more cycling-friendly after the coronavirus pandemic.

Among them is Milan, which in early 2022 committed to constructing the Cambio network of 24 cycle highways by 2035 based on data about the daily movements of its residents. These will be accompanied by dedicated bicycle parking stations, physical and digital wayfinding displays and low-impact lighting.

Find out more about Cambio ›


Volkswagen ID Buzz next to a vintage VW van in a parking lot
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen

ID Buzz by Volkswagen

Electric vehicle launches came thick and fast in 2022, and among the most interesting was the ID Buzz by Volkswagen.

The van is an electrified update of the German carmaker's famous T1 Transporter camper van, which became associated with the hippie movement of the 1960s and 70s, and has the same flat front and a similar V-shaped face as the original.

Find out more about the ID Buzz ›


Industrial origami motorcycle
Photo courtesy of Stilride

SUS1 by Stilride

Swedish startup Stilride this year unveiled the Sport Utility Scooter One (SUS1), an electric scooter built using an unusual origami-like process that reduces the amount of material used, limiting the environmental impact of manufacture.

While conventional scooters consist of a tubular frame and a plastic body, the SUS1's chassis is constructed by taking a single sheet of stainless steel and cutting and folding it.

Find out more about SUS1 ›


Cake anti-poaching bikes
Photo courtesy of Cake

Anti-Poaching bikes by Cake

Another interesting example of an electric motorcycle seeking to cut carbon emissions is the anti-poaching series from Swedish brand Cake.

The solar-charged bikes were created specifically for use by rangers in the South African bush, allowing them to quietly approach illegal animal poachers thanks to the lack of engine noise while also negating the need for polluting petrol deliveries by truck or helicopter.

Find out more about Cake Anti-Poaching bikes ›


Rolls-Royce EasyJet hydrogen test engine
Photo courtesy of Rolls-Royce and EasyJet

Hydrogen jet engine by Rolls-Royce and EasyJet

Aviation is a major contributor to global transport emissions, and while there are still doubts over whether it will ever be practical to fuel planes with hydrogen, 2022 saw the world's first test of a commercial jet engine powered by the non-carbon-emitting element.

British airline EasyJet and engineering company Rolls-Royce used renewably-made hydrogen to power a converted Rolls-Royce AE 2100 aircraft engine.

The technology is still in its infancy, but Rolls-Royce chief technology officer Grazia Vittadini called the test "an exciting milestone".

Find out more about this hydrogen jet engine ›