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SITUATION
Freight transport has been growing more rapidly than passenger transport and accounts for over 35% of transport energy. The IPCC projected freight transport energy use increasing annually at an average of 2% prior to the 2008 global recession. Under this scenario, emissions would nearly double by 2030.
Freight transport has been growing more rapidly than passenger transport and accounts for over 35% of transport energy. The IPCC projected freight transport energy use increasing annually at an average of 2% prior to the 2008 global recession. Under this scenario, emissions would nearly double by 2030. Trucking is the predominant local and regional freight transport mode and responsible annually for an estimated 2 billion tons of CO2e emissions, or 4% of global anthropogenic emissions. Emissions are increasing as the share of freight handled by trucks increases due to demand for rapid transport and the subsequent shift from rail and regional waterways. Emissions growth is contributing to rising atmospheric concentration of CO2e that leads to catastrophic climate change.
The trucking industry is motivated to adopt efficiency technologies due to fuel costs and competitive pressure. This includes measures to reduce weight and drag through lighter materials and aerodynamic design, respectively. There has been a trend toward using lighter materials in road vehicles, although the efficiency gains are negated in many cases by increased size or performance. There are active research initiatives by the U.S. Department of Energy to reduce drag through aerodynamic design and obtain efficiency gains of 15% to 20% and to enhance engine efficiency, targeting a 10% to 20% efficiency gain.
OBJECTIVE
The use of alternative fuels is an important option for reducing emissions but is less of a near-term imperative for truckers than improving fuel economy and reducing vehicle miles traveled, both of which reduce costs. Measures to decrease energy use and associated CO2e emissions include reduced weight through use of lightweight materials (e.g.
The use of alternative fuels is an important option for reducing emissions but is less of a near-term imperative for truckers than improving fuel economy and reducing vehicle miles traveled, both of which reduce costs. Measures to decrease energy use and associated CO2e emissions include reduced weight through use of lightweight materials (e.g. aluminum to replace steel in trucks), reduced drag through aerodynamic design, engine efficiency, and reduced rolling resistance from tyres. IPCC reports estimates for fuel savings from complete packages of aerodynamic improvements for heavy-duty trucks are 15% to 20%. Estimated engine efficiency gains by 2010 are 10% to 20%, with higher gains possible if more fundamental changes to diesel engines are implemented. These efficiency measures translate into significant emissions reductions.
A set of initiatives – including reduced speeds, improved highways to reduce congestion, fuel efficiency, and optimization of truck routes and cargos – proposed by the American Truckers Association (ATA) aims to achieve significant fuel savings and emissions reductions. The ATA target is to reduce emissions by 900 million tons by 2020. To fully remove carbon from the trucking fleet, a switch to carbon-free fuels would be required.
Even with voluntary efforts underway, standards and monitoring remain important for the industry, and the IPCC reports concern about a gap between tested emissions and on-road emissions – with diesel engines of particular concern
Free-Enterprise Approaches
The trucking industry is under competitive pressure and motivated to consider both fuel economy and reduction in vehicle miles traveled in order to lower costs. The timing is good for introduction to the market of efficiency technologies for trucks, as well as alternative fuels if they can be made available at an attractive price point. Business models that scale to provide efficiency retrofits and new design for trucks are needed. Ensuring the deployment of alternative fuels will likely require policy support, in large part to prevent fluctuations in oil prices from undermining the industry as it gets established.
TRUCKS EMIT SIGNIFICANT CO2E
The trucking industry is responsible for an estimated 2 billion tons of CO2e emissions per year, or 4% of global anthropogenic emissions...
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TRUCKING IS A MAJOR OPPORTUNITY
Motivated by high fuel costs and emissions standards, technologies are under development to reduce net trucking emissions. The American Trucking Association is targeting close to a 1 billion ton...
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TRAINS ARE EFFICIENT MEANS OF TRANSPORT
Trains are an efficient means of transport. Whether moving people or freight, trains have become a fast and low emissions option for transportation. With track availability as a binding constraint...
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TRANSPORT EMISSIONS ARE RISING
Under business-as-usual, transport emissions continue to increase dramatically and are a major contributor to rising CO2e levels that lead to catastrophic climate change.
Read more > Source: IPCC, 2007
TRANSPORT ENERGY USE IS RISING
Reliance on petroleum, which supplies approximately 95% of transport energy, is driving CO2e emissions growth in the transport sector at a dangerous rate.
Read more > Source: IPCC, 2007INTELLIGENCE
REPORTS
Commission for Integrated Transport, 2007
PUBLICATIONS
OECD and International Transport Forum, 2008
Eds. T.R. Leinbach and C. Capineri
2007
2007
D. Lowe
2005
2005
B.C. Richardson
2001
2001
