I read an article earlier on www.fueleconomy.gov that petroleum-powered vehicles use only about 15 per cent of the energy of the fuel they consume to run the vehicle, along with its accessories like, for example, air-conditioning. The rest of the energy is expended as waste that is a main cause of pollution today.
As a result, environmental concerns, along with the rising cost of conventional fuels have lead to future energy for sustainable transportation becoming a key topic in the climate change conversation. Low emissions transport that uses renewable energy is a rapidly developing field of study, demonstrated in practice as most large car manufacturers work hard to make sustainable vehicles: the hybrid car is the main achievement so far. Fuel-cell vehicles, electric vehicles, and those that run on biofuels are significant works in progress, and nuclear energy is being explored too.
There is a growing focus on alternative energy sources across the world in fact – I saw a recent news article in the British newspaper, The Guardian, from a conference in Iceland that focuses on subjects such as electric mobility, the future of biofuels and energy efficiency in land and sea transport. Iceland appears to be a leader in alternative energy development, as it harnesses 100 per cent of its electricity and heat from renewable sources.
Sustainable transportation features high on the agenda of WFES 2010, with individual vehicle ownership and usage continuing to increase, the establishment of sustainable transportation infrastructure is set to become increasingly important. The summit will deliver sessions reviewing the latest policies and regulations in the development of sustainable transport networks in both the developed and developing world, including the rise of the electric car and advanced rail solutions
The use of alternative energy sources for transportation is still gaining momentum – When will the use of these fuels for transportation reach economies of scale and hit the mass market? Which alternative fuel will be the first?
- Ludovica Sarram, Conference Manager
Using of alternative energy sources for transportation should be at the earliest due the enviromental impact, but I don’t think it will be in the near future. It’s true that UAE is a developed country and shows interests regarding this matter, however, it will not be an easy shift to the other source of eneryg. If an alternative fuel will replace the current one, i think it must be the electric one for vehicles due to the fact that the current fuel is not cheap her in UAE comparing to other countries in the region (ie. KSA, Qatar and Oma).
The Middle East has a great potential for sustainable development and the use of alternative energy to power our transportation. With the amount of sunshine that we have here, the big investors, and the will to have the best projects in the world, i believe the U.A.E can be very soon the precursor of sustainable development for the region, and follow what has already been done for years in other countries in the world. We should take example of Northern Eurpoean countries and take advantage of the potential we have to start acting and saving our environment.
The launch of the carbon free metro in Dubai should be a kickstart for many new alternative energey transportation.