UK announces ‘ambitious’ plan to become hub for green transport
Could we be climbing aboard solar-powered trains in the near future?
The British government has released a report addressing the decarbonisation of transport as part of its national climate crisis strategy.
The plan states that “rapid and unprecedented action” will be required to effect change, with hopes to reduce car use and make the UK a hub for green technology in the run-up to the COP26 climate talks in November.
Aiming to start a “green transport revolution”, it is split into six strategic priorities which will enable the UK to reach net zero by 2050. The report pays particular attention to active transport, in other words, walking and cycling.
During the coronavirus outbreak especially, cycling and walking are encouraged as a safe way to exercise.
Public transport also comes under the active transport umbrella, as some sort of physical activity is usually involved in getting to and from bus stops or train stations. The government report hopes this will soon become “the natural first choice for daily activities.”
The six priorities are:
Accelerating a shift towards public and active transport
Decarbonising road vehicles
Decarbonising how our goods and services reach us
Solutions for emissions reductions based on specific locations
The UK as a hub for green technology and innovation
Reducing carbon in a global economy
In short, it covers how we travel, how our goods and services reach us and deployment of clean technology. The report comes after the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced £5 billion worth of investment in local buses, cycling and walking infrastructure on 11th February this year. This includes funding for at least 4,000 zero emission buses to make greener travel a convenient option, improving the frequency of services and implementing more affordable fares.
Rail travel is also being considered a more eco-friendly alternative to car use, described as “one of the most efficient ways of moving high volumes of people into city centres and moving people over long distances” in the plan.
The UK could even see a shift towards solar-powered trains, via the ‘Riding Sunbeams: First Light’ project in future, it specifies. The sporadic nature of the energy resource, sunshine, means it can be deployed almost anywhere, “from small rooftop arrays to solar farms a mile wide.” This project would be the first time anybody has connected solar generation directly to rail traction networks to power trains.
For Greg Archer, the UK Director of Transport Environment campaigning for sustainable transport in Europe, it is time for the government to “translate its good intentions into firm actions.”
“There is no silver bullet to decarbonising transport”, but at least the new report is “balanced”, he says. “Phasing out the sale of new cars and vans with engines by the early 2030’s is both essential and entirely feasible; but this must be complimented by reducing car use.”
The UK must move away from building new roads and instead allocate more “space and funding for walking, cycling and public transport,” Archer continues. Whether the government “is willing to make these tough decisions remains to be seen.”
Related
What in the world is carbon insetting - and is it any better for the planet than carbon offsetting?
Common electric car emissions myth busted by new study
Grey smog lifts in India as coronavirus drives cars off the roads
Mode of transport depends on the regionThe report also details the discrepancies throughout the country when it comes to choosing a mode of transport for travel. Across Great Britain, 68% of workers typically travelled to work by car in 2018, but the number dropped significantly in London, with a much lower proportion of just 27%.
According to the research, providing people with the right amount of information on the environmental impact of their journeys could help them change their habits. If the public can “access clear, transparent information about the emissions associated with their journeys, then this will enable more informed decisions about how individuals and goods travel,” states the report.
The good news is electric car sales are on the up. There are record numbers of electric vehicles (EVs) on roads and, in 2019, the UK was ranked the third largest market for ultra-low emission vehicles in Europe. There are now over 240,000 battery electric and plug in hybrid vehicles registered around the country.
Customized/OEM/ODM Service
HomSolar Supports Lifepo4 battery pack customization/OEM/ODM service, welcome to contact us and tell us your needs.
HomSolar: Your One-stop LiFePO4 Battery Pack & ESS Solution Manufacturer
Our line of LiFePO4 (LFP) batteries offer a solution to demanding applications that require a lighter weight, longer life, and higher capacity battery. Features include advanced battery management systems (BMS), Bluetooth® communication and active intelligent monitoring.
Customised Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Casing
ABS plastic housing, aluminium housing, stainless steel housing and iron housing are available, and can also be designed and customised according to your needs.
HomSolar Smart BMS
Intelligent Battery Management System for HomSolar Energy Storage System. Bluetooth, temperature sensor, LCD display, CAN interface, UART interface also available.
Terminals & Plugs Can Be Customized
A wide range of terminals and plugs can be customised to suit the application needs of your battery products.
Well-designed Solutions for Energy Storage Systems
We will design the perfect energy storage system solution according to your needs, so that you can easily solve the specific industry applications of battery products.
About Our Battery Cells
Our energy storage system products use brand new grade A LiFePO4 cells with a battery lifespan of more than 4,000 charge/discharge cycles.
Applications in Different Industries
We supply customized & OEM battery pack, assemble cells with wiring, fuse and plastic cover, all the cell wires connected to PCB plug or built BMS.
Applications: E-bike, Electric Scooter, Golf Carts, RV, Electric Wheelchair, Electric Tools, Robot Cleaner, Robot Sweeper, Solar Energy Storage System, Emergency Light, Solar Power Light, Medical Equipment, UPS Backup Power Supply.
We can provide you with customized services. We have the ability to provide a vertical supply chain, from single cells to pack/module and to a complete power solution with BMS, etc.
HomSolar (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd
