• Energy Research
• 11. Sustainability close
• 1. No poverty close
• 8. Economic growth close
• US close
• UA close
• Transport Research close

The COVID-19 pandemic has tremendously affected the whole of human society worldwide. Travel patterns have greatly changed due to the increased risk perception and the governmental interventions regarding COVID-19. This study aimed to identify contributing factors to the changes in public and private transportation mode choice behavior in China after COVID-19 based on an online questionnaire survey. In the survey, travel behaviors in three periods were studied: before the outbreak (before 27 December 2019), the peak (from 20 January to 17 March 2020), and after the peak (from 18 March to the date of the survey). A series of random-parameter bivariate Probit models was developed to quantify the relationship between individual characteristics and the changes in travel mode choice. The key findings indicated that individual sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., gender, age, ownership, occupation, residence) have significant effects on the changes in mode choice behavior. Other key findings included (1) a higher propensity to use a taxi after the peak compared to urban public transportation (i.e., bus and subway); (2) a significant impact of age on the switch from public transit to private car and two-wheelers; (3) more obvious changes in private car and public transportation modes in more developed cities. The findings from this study are expected to be useful for establishing partial and resilient policies and ensuring sustainable mobility and travel equality in the post-pandemic era.

Purpose. In modern conditions of energy consumption growth and a rapid increase in energy prices the actual problem is the development and implementation of energy efficiency programs and resource-saving conversion in to a source to provide the needs of industry and municipal power. The paper aims to solve the urgent problem of energy saving and efficient use of fuel-energy ones and heat supply system optimization on the basis of Uman National University of Horticulture (UNUH). Methodology. The work investigated the process of heating and hot water supply in the course of 2007-2015 years. Implementation of current problems of energy saving is grounded on the scientific-practical and efficient assurance of fuel and energy usage. At the same time energy-saving technologies are viewed as a priority direction of the energy sector development, reduction of man-induced impact on the environment and as a way of improving the competitiveness of the national economy. Findings. Statistical data acquisition and analyzing of gas flow and outside air temperature for nine years was carried out. On the basis of this analysis, the problem was identified and specific targets for its solutions were set. Originality. Scientific novelty lies in solving the problem of energy saving and efficient use of fuel resources in Ukraine through the use of a systematic approach, the methodology development of efficient use of different fuels and optimization of local heating operation, applying contemporary automation and control systems. Firstly it was in detail analyzed and conducted the comprehensive assessment of various factors influence on energy conservation. It takes into account the human factor, professionalism and responsibility of the operators of boilers and their superiors, as well as the relevant control services. Practical value. For UNUH campus hybrid use of solid fuel and gas boilers was carried out. Decentralization of the university heating system has been conducted through the restoration of 350 individual heating systems in residential buildings, remote departments and campus dormitories. The conclusions propose the list of activities upon the real economy of fuel and energy resources, and measures to overcome the economic and political crisis in the country.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 lockdown significant improvements in urban air quality were detected due to the absence of motorized vehicles. It is crucial to perpetuate such improvements to maintain and improve public health simultaneously. Therefore, this exploratory study approached bicycle infrastructure in the case of Munich (Germany) to find out which specific bicycle lanes meet the demands of its users, how such infrastructure looks like, and which characteristics are potentially important. Methods: To identify patterns of bicycle infrastructure in Munich exploratory data is collected over the timespan of three consecutive weeks in August by a bicycle rider at different times of the day. We measure position, time, velocity, pulse, level of sound, temperature and humidity. In the next step, we qualitatively identified different segments and applied a cluster analysis to quantitatively describe those segments regarding the measured factors. The data allows us to identify which bicycle lanes have a particular set of measurements, indicating a favorable construction for bike riders. Results: In the exploratory dataset, five relevant segment clusters are identified: viscous, slow, inconsistent, accelerating, and best-performance. The segments that are identified as best-performance enable bicycle riders to travel efficiently and safely at amenable distances in urban areas. They are characterized by their width, little to no interaction with motorized traffic as well as pedestrians, and effective traffic light control. Discussion: We propose two levels of discussion: (1) revolves around what kind of bicycles lanes from the case study can help to increase bicycle usage in urban areas, while simultaneously improving public health and mitigating climate change challenges and (2) discussing the possibilities, limitations and necessary improvements of this kind of exploratory methodology.

Abstract Alternative vehicle technologies have a great potential to minimize the transportation-related environmental impacts, reduce the reliance of the U.S. on imported petroleum, and increase energy security. However, they introduce new uncertainties related to their environmental, economic, and social impacts and certain challenges for widespread adoption. In this study, a novel method, uncertainty-embedded dynamic life cycle sustainability assessment framework, is developed to address both methodological challenges and uncertainties in transportation sustainability research. The proposed approach provides a more comprehensive, system-based sustainability assessment framework by capturing the dynamic relations among the parameters within the U.S. transportation system as a whole with respect to its environmental, social, and economic impacts. Using multivariate uncertainty analysis, likelihood of the impact reduction potentials of different vehicle types, as well as the behavioral limits of the sustainability potentials of each vehicle type are analyzed. Seven sustainability impact categories are dynamically quantified for four different vehicle types (internal combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles) from 2015 to 2050. Although impacts of electric vehicles have the largest uncertainty, they are expected (90% confidence) to be the best alternative in long-term for reducing human health impacts and air pollution from transportation. While results based on deterministic (average) values indicate that electric vehicles have greater potential of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, plug-in hybrid vehicles have the largest potential according to the results with 90% confidence interval.

In Zimbabwe trade has been a driver of economic growth, rising incomes, and progressive empowerment of Zimbabweans through rising standards of living and the promise of better jobs. Since 1980, through good years and bad years, increases in exports have been positively associated with increases in national income. Zimbabwe's location and resource base, together with a low-cost but relatively well educated labor force, have endowed it with a naturally high trade ratio built on a diversified base that facilitates using trade as an engine of growth. While trade volumes have rebounded smartly from the deep recession of 2007-2008, these do not offset other worrisome longer-term trends: 1) export growth during the last decade has been lackluster and failed to drive high growth; 2) agricultural exports, other than tobacco, have lost their once dominant role in the region, and are no longer a source of diversification; 3) manufacturing has withered in a continuing secular decline; and 4) Zimbabwe's export basket has become less diversified and more dependent on a narrow range of mineral and, to a lesser extent, agricultural products. In short, exports have become less diversified, less-technologically sophisticated, and less labor-intensive, and ever more dependent on a few large mining activities to provide foreign exchange and employment. This report traces the roots of this poor performance to several policy issues: poor predictability of macroeconomic policy and economic governance has created an unfavorable climate for private investment and trade; a tariff structure that dampens export profitability; industrial policies (indigenization policy in particular) that undermine investor confidence and inhibits private investment; and finally, competition-limiting policies toward services that limit connectivity of Zimbabweans and raise trade costs. The good news arising from the study is that the remedies for these policy shortcomings lie in Zimbabwean hands. If the government were to adopt reforms that reconfigure economy-wide incentives and trade and industrial policies, it could promote sustained growth, economic diversification and empowerment of poor people.

Air and sea transport power the global economy. Since the vast majority of trade is physical, it must travel by plane or ship to reach its market. In fact, high value, time-sensitive goods usually fly through at least two airports, and almost every container passes through at least two seaports. When ports are efficient, people receive the goods theyre waiting for, sellers receive payment, and global economic development is strengthened. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) push this development forward with greater speed and richer benefits. In this issue, handshake turns its attention to air and sea transport (expect a companion issue on road and rail in October 2012). In the air, we deconstruct myths surrounding airport PPPs, learn brutally honest lessons from experiences in airline privatization, and revisit the liberalization of African skies. For seaports, the authors examine private investment, glimpse the post concession era, and witness the PPP evolution.

Air taxis are currently being demonstrated. Few studies have quantified their external effects in reducing on-road vehicle fuel consumption. The hypothesis of this paper is that air taxis may divert some drivers away from congested traffic corridors, improve traffic speed and fuel economy, and reduce congestion-induced energy consumption. A model is developed that links several key components: mode choice, the relationship between travel demand and traffic speeds, the relationship between traffic speeds and fuel economies, and the heterogenous value of travel time. It is applied to the route from downtown Los Angeles to Los Angeles International Airport, where at peak hours 38,200 vehicles attempt to use the route that has an hourly capacity of 17,200 vehicles. The model estimates that, with conservative assumptions and near-term technologies, diverting 3.2% of the traffic to air taxis could produce a 15% reduction in traffic vehicle fuel use. With optimistic assumptions and mature technologies, the study estimates that diverting 20% of traffic could reduce the traffic vehicle fuel use by about 74%. The key insight is that if a small share of congested travelers switched to air taxis, motivated by private benefits of time savings, significant external benefits for other road travelers (time savings and fuel savings) and to society (reduced energy use and emissions), would ensue creating a win-win-win outcome. These estimates (which are not intended as predictions because of the stated limitations) strongly suggest the need to consider the external energy effect in future cost-benefit analyses of air taxi technologies.

La movilidad eléctrica parece traer un cambio de paradigma en el sector del transporte por carretera en todo el mundo. El enorme consumo de combustibles fósiles y la creciente congestión del tráfico han causado preocupaciones sobre el consumo futuro de energía, el crecimiento de la economía y las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero en los países miembros del Consejo de Cooperación del Golfo. La introducción de vehículos eléctricos (VE) en los dos países más poblados de la región, es decir, el Reino de Arabia Saudita y los Emiratos Árabes Unidos, se considera una opción prometedora para abordar la contaminación ambiental y los futuros temores relacionados con la economía de la región. Este documento presenta los impulsores clave para que los países adopten el transporte eléctrico. Este estudio de investigación investiga el impacto de la penetración de los vehículos eléctricos en la energía, la economía y el medio ambiente de Arabia Saudita y los Emiratos Árabes Unidos a través del pronóstico de existencias de vehículos eléctricos mediante el análisis de regresión lineal. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren que el crecimiento esperado en el sector eléctrico de Arabia Saudita y los Emiratos Árabes Unidos les permitirá mantener una penetración de vehículos eléctricos del 5% y el 30% para 2030, respectivamente. En este sentido, se propone un conjunto de políticas que permitirán a los países acelerar sus esfuerzos para alcanzar los objetivos previstos de reducción de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI). Aunque la investigación presentada se centra en el estudio de caso de Arabia Saudita y los Emiratos Árabes Unidos, los hallazgos de la investigación son lo suficientemente generalizados como para aplicarse a todas las demás regiones de la región. El conjunto de políticas sugerido servirá como guía para las partes interesadas pertinentes sobre las medidas necesarias para la electrificación sostenible del transporte por carretera en Arabia Saudita y los Emiratos Árabes Unidos. La mobilité électrique semble apporter un changement de paradigme dans le secteur du transport routier dans le monde entier. L'énorme consommation de combustibles fossiles et la congestion croissante du trafic ont suscité des inquiétudes quant à la consommation d'énergie future, à la croissance économique et aux émissions de gaz à effet de serre dans les pays membres de la région du Conseil de coopération du Golfe. L'introduction de véhicules électriques (VE) dans les deux pays les plus peuplés de la région, à savoir le Royaume d'Arabie saoudite et les Émirats arabes unis, est considérée comme une option prometteuse pour lutter contre la pollution de l'environnement et les craintes liées à l'économie future. Ce document présente les principaux facteurs incitant les pays à adopter le transport électrique. Cette étude de recherche étudie l'impact de la pénétration des véhicules électriques sur l'énergie, l'économie et l'environnement de l'Arabie saoudite et des Émirats arabes unis grâce à la prévision des stocks de véhicules électriques à l'aide d'une analyse de régression linéaire. Les résultats obtenus suggèrent que la croissance attendue dans le secteur de l'électricité en Arabie saoudite et aux Émirats arabes unis leur permettra de maintenir une pénétration de 5 % et de 30 % des véhicules électriques d'ici 2030, respectivement. À cet égard, un ensemble de politiques est proposé, qui permettra aux pays d'accélérer leurs efforts pour atteindre les objectifs de réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES). Bien que la recherche présentée se concentre sur l'étude de cas de l'Arabie saoudite et des Émirats arabes unis, les résultats de la recherche sont suffisamment généralisés pour être appliqués à toutes les autres régions de la région. L'ensemble de politiques suggéré servira de lignes directrices aux parties prenantes concernées sur les mesures nécessaires à l'électrification durable du transport routier en Arabie saoudite et aux Émirats arabes unis. Electric mobility seems to bring a paradigm shift in the road transport sector worldwide. Huge consumption of fossil fuels and ever-increasing traffic congestion have caused concerns over future energy consumption, economy growth, and greenhouse gas emissions in the Gulf Cooperation Council region's member countries. The introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) in the two most populous countries of the region, i.e., the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and UAE is considered a promising option to address environmental pollution and future economy-related fears region. This paper presents key drivers for the countries to adopt electric transportation. This research study investigates the impact of EVs penetration on energy, economy, and environment of KSA and UAE through EV stockpile forecasting using linear regression analysis. The obtained results suggest that expected growth in KSA and UAE's power sector will enable them to keep up 5% and 30% EVs penetration by 2030, respectively. In this regard, a set of policies are proposed, which will enable the countries to pace up their efforts to achieve the intended greenhouse gases (GHG) emission reduction goals. Though the presented research is focused on the case study of KSA and UAE, the research findings are generalized enough to be applied to all other regions of the region. The suggested set of policies will serve as guidelines for the relevant stakeholders about the necessary measures required for sustainable road transport electrification in KSA and UAE. يبدو أن التنقل الكهربائي يجلب نقلة نوعية في قطاع النقل البري في جميع أنحاء العالم. تسبب الاستهلاك الهائل للوقود الأحفوري والازدحام المروري المتزايد باستمرار في مخاوف بشأن استهلاك الطاقة في المستقبل ونمو الاقتصاد وانبعاثات غازات الدفيئة في البلدان الأعضاء في مجلس التعاون الخليجي. يعتبر إدخال المركبات الكهربائية (EVs) في البلدين الأكثر اكتظاظًا بالسكان في المنطقة، أي المملكة العربية السعودية والإمارات العربية المتحدة، خيارًا واعدًا لمعالجة التلوث البيئي ومنطقة المخاوف المتعلقة بالاقتصاد المستقبلي. تعرض هذه الورقة الدوافع الرئيسية للبلدان لتبني النقل الكهربائي. تبحث هذه الدراسة البحثية في تأثير تغلغل المركبات الكهربائية على الطاقة والاقتصاد والبيئة في المملكة العربية السعودية والإمارات العربية المتحدة من خلال التنبؤ بمخزون المركبات الكهربائية باستخدام تحليل الانحدار الخطي. تشير النتائج التي تم الحصول عليها إلى أن النمو المتوقع في قطاع الطاقة في المملكة العربية السعودية والإمارات العربية المتحدة سيمكنهما من الحفاظ على انتشار السيارات الكهربائية بنسبة 5 ٪ و 30 ٪ بحلول عام 2030، على التوالي. وفي هذا الصدد، تُقترح مجموعة من السياسات التي ستمكن البلدان من تسريع جهودها لتحقيق الأهداف المنشودة لخفض انبعاثات غازات الدفيئة. على الرغم من أن البحث المقدم يركز على دراسة حالة المملكة العربية السعودية والإمارات العربية المتحدة، إلا أن نتائج البحث معممة بما يكفي لتطبيقها على جميع المناطق الأخرى في المنطقة. ستكون مجموعة السياسات المقترحة بمثابة إرشادات لأصحاب المصلحة المعنيين حول التدابير اللازمة لكهربة النقل البري المستدام في المملكة العربية السعودية والإمارات العربية المتحدة.