Low carbon transport for the 21st century

Low carbon transport forthe 21st centuryIn 2006, the Stern and Eddington reviews put the climate change impacts oftransport centre stage in the environmental debate. As a trusted advisor toGovernment on these issues, AEA has recently played a key role in helping theCommittee on Climate Change set out its response to this challenge.Our team of transport specialists works with a wide variety of public andprivate sector clients to achieve a sustainable, low carbon future for all modes oftransport. Our expertise covers emissions, vehicles, fuels and driver behaviouracross road, rail, air and sea. Our work ranges from leading-edge technicalresearch and policy, through to helping fleet operators reduce fuel consumptionand improve their operational efficiency.

Best-in-class resource capabilityOur team of 40 sustainable transport consultantscombines leading-edge science and engineering expertisewith behaviour change and policy insight. The team hasextensive experience of the logistics sector and workingwith major stakeholders in the transport sector.Our continuing input to policy means that we have anin-depth understanding of current and future strategicenvironmental challenges facing the transport sector.At the operational level, we combine our extensive projectmanagement capability with unrivalled technical expertiseto achieve substantial cost and carbon reductions forour clients.Our technical capabilities include:• Measuring and modelling transport emissions(CO 2, SO 2, PM 10, NOx).• A deep understanding of low carbon transporttechnology (vehicles and fuels).• Practical, hands-on knowledge of freight and fleetbest practice, and improving operational efficiency.• Carbon footprint assessment and carbon life cycleanalysis.• Full-spectrum assessment of transport policy andstrategy, comprising environmental, economic, socialand health impacts.• Regulatory compliance and strategy.• Assessment of climate change impacts on transportinfrastructure.Project examplesModelling emissions,comparing modesIn work for a major freight operator, AEA addressed thecomparison between moving freight by road and rail,assessing not only the carbon emissions, but also theother air quality impacts and the safety recordsof each.More recent work has looked at the CO 2emissionsfrom short-haul flights versus high-speed rail links,in terms of passengers carried and per passengerkilometre.Cutting fuel use by UK plcAEA has managed the implementation of theGovernment’s Safe And Fuel Efficient Driver trainingprogramme (SAFED), first for HGVs and currentlyfor light commercial vehicles (LCVs), overseeing theorganisation and accreditation of a national network oftrainers. So far, over 16,000 drivers have been trained,generating immediate and significant fuel savings forbusiness in addition to those that can be achievedthrough technology.Robust monitoring and management of fuel is anessential first step to realising savings. AEA combinesits industry knowledge and organisational capacity tohelp companies devise and implement strategies tosubstantially reduce fuel consumption.Filling the tank – alternative fuelsAEA played a key role in the Gallagher review on theindirect effects of biofuels.Other projects have examined the potential for usinghydrogen and biodiesel on Britain’s railways, carrying outa wide-ranging feasibility study into the use of hydrogen inroad transport and organising an extensive trial of biofuelsin a UK public-sector vehicle fleet.Driving the future –vehicle technologyIn recent work for Government, AEA examined the fulllife cycle cost-benefit ratio and cost of ownership forhybrid electric and battery-electric vehicles, includingbuses. For a rail industry client, AEA assessed thetechnological options for improving the efficiency ofrolling stock, combined with whole-life environmentalcost models.Understanding the wider impactsof transportAEA has undertaken a number of studies for publicand private sector clients to understand the widerimpacts of transport activities. For example, a recentGovernment project involved modelling the impacts ofcurrent and future rail infrastructure development on airquality, greenhouse gas emissions and noise.For more information, please contact Jerry Izard, Client Director, Transportt: +44 (0) 870 190 2639 e: jerry.izard@aeat.co.uk w: www.aeat.com2/24/Mar09