Summary
My interests revolve around understanding future technology transition pathways in fuel efficient transport, particularly low emission passenger cars, in order to inform policies that are both effective and efficient. This involves studying the complex interactions among technology cost and performance, consumer adoption, and industry and government behaviour, which will determine the future pace and direction of low emission vehicle innovation. My research is multidisciplinary, covering the whole spectrum from science and technology to policy and economics. Methods used include techno-economic analysis, dynamic simulation modelling, interviews and surveys, qualitative and quantitative policy analysis, transport energy modelling and econometrics.
I have more than 15 years experience working in low emission vehicle technology and policy research for a range of organisations, including academia, public research centres, government, industry and consultancy. An electrochemist by training, I graduated with a thesis on lithium ion battery recycling and went on to work as an R&D scientist developing advanced lithium ion batteries for a start-up company. I then joined Imperial College where I completed an MSc in Environmental Technology and subsequently a PhD in Energy Policy and Technology assessing hydrogen fuel cell vehicle policy in the EU. During my years at Imperial I was principal investigator on UK, EC and industrial grants, and supervised several MSc and PhD students. While at Imperial I also collaborated with a technology park in the area of low emission vehicles, did independent consultancy and was seconded to the UK Government Office for Low Emission Vehicles. I then joined an energy economics and policy research centre in Saudi Arabia where my focus was energy transitions and particularly the impact of low emission vehicle policy and technology on future oil demand. I currently work for a specialist energy and environmental consultancy in London, advising a range of private and government clients on low carbon vehicle policy, technology and markets.
Publications
Journals
Mazur CM, Offer G, Contestabile MSM, et al., 2018, Comparing the effects of vehicle automation, policy making and changed user preferences on the uptake of electric cars and emissions from transport, Sustainability, Vol:10, ISSN:2071-1050
Contestabile M, Alajaji M, Almubarak B, 2017, Will current electric vehicle policy lead to cost-effective electrification of passenger car transport?, Energy Policy, Vol:110, ISSN:0301-4215, Pages:20-30
Foster E, Contestabile M, Blazquez J, et al., 2017, The unstudied barriers to widespread renewable energy deployment: Fossil fuel price responses, Energy Policy, Vol:103, ISSN:0301-4215, Pages:258-264
Mazur CM, Brandon, Offer, et al., 2015, Understanding the drivers of fleet emission reduction activities of the German car manufacturers, Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, Vol:16, ISSN:2210-4224, Pages:3-21
Mazur C, Contestabile M, Offer GJ, et al., 2015, Assessing and comparing German and UK transition policies for electric mobility, Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, Vol:14, ISSN:2210-4224, Pages:84-100