Transport’s Carbon & Energy Future
#CleanTransport : Use less fuel, move more freight
Clean Transport News
Keep up-to-speed with the latest developments in clean transport action: 1. Nikola One Truck Revealed One of the largest US trucking companies believes the Nikola One truck could be a game-changer for the trucking industry. Going all-electric with a hydrogen-powered fuel cell will help change the cycle of rate volatility driven by diesel prices. Including one million miles worth of fuel in the vehicle's purchase price will help too. The Nikola One is like to a "rolling iPhone" with everything a truck driver needs to do business at their fingertips, including a 21-inch display screen driver console pre-loaded with its
Are you ready for Intelligent Transport Systems?
Melbourne's ITS World Congress 2016 was a mind-blowing experience for someone getting up-to-speed with the latest in a fast-changing field. With 12,000 delegates from 73 countries, this annual event tracks the rapid progression in Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), where leading players show how new transport technologies are disrupting business models across the globe. No longer science fiction or 5-10 years away, ITS is already here, and not just in big cities like London, Singapore and San Francisco. Smaller places like Milwaukee, Ohio and Estonia are showing that Intelligent Transport Systems can be applied anywhere for those willing to collaborate and
Shipping’s Growing Carbon Gap
On the face of it, Shipping is the most efficient of freight transport modes. Intermodal shipping containers kick-started rapid growth in trade globalisation 60 years ago, and container ships, tankers and bulk carriers have been getting bigger ever since. Carrying more freight with less fuel on a tonne-mile basis, shipping has the highest energy productivity of all transport modes. Yet looks can be deceiving. While international shipping contributes 2.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, business-as-usual could see this explode to a whopping 18% by 2050. As trade growth increases demand, today’s fleet burns the dirtiest transport fuels, and a
Clean road transport game plan
Enjoyed reading Prime Mover magazine's recent sustainability report series. Signing the COP21 Paris accord certainly does accelerate the need for a commercial road transport industry game plan to lead Australian business and government policy responses or we’ll be left wondering what happened post-2020. The language has changed: “low carbon” ambitions of last century are obsolete; specific, measurable “zero carbon” goals are in. With an old truck fleet averaging 14+ years of age, half our technology is last century too. Fuel is such a critical and volatile cost; why the lack of fleet renewal in Australia? Especially when new fuel-efficient trucks promise
The Elephant Not in the Room
There was a renewed feeling of optimism at this week’s Emission Reduction Summit in Melbourne, with the COP21 Paris agreement providing a platform of global commitment and inspiration for the “Who’s Who of Climate Change Action” in attendance. Yet as we dined on delicious carbon neutral seafood washed down with carbon neutral fine wine, my thoughts turned to the elephant that wasn’t in the room. Transport recently surpassed electricity as the largest energy user in Australia, its emissions growing faster than any other sector. Freight will progressively exceed passenger transport energy use as Australia’s freight task grows faster than the