Future of Transport and Mobility Q4 2023 | A promotional supplement distributed on behalf of Mediaplanet, which takes sole responsibility for its content
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“Artificial intelligence tools can underpin a revolution in city mobility.”
“High-quality infrastructure is an important element of a modern society and economy.”
Oscar Huerta Melchor, PhD, OECD
Damien Owens, Engineers Ireland
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Emer Barry Programme Manager, Electric Vehicles & Demand Generation, SEAI Shane Prendergast Programme Manager, EV Charging Infrastructure & Smart Networks, SEAI
It’s changing the mindset and behaviours of its people who will make the difference and help reach the target of a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030. ~Read more from SEAI on page 05
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Are algorithms the future of smart urban transport? Artificial intelligence (AI) tools will transform the way we move. AI can make urban mobility systems more sustainable, resilient and human-centric. What can we expect from smart mobility?
A Oscar Huerta Melchor, PHD Project Manager, Urban Development and Governance OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities
rtificial intelligence tools can underpin a revolution in city mobility, providing opportunities for the smarter management of urban traffic and public transport, as well as for autonomous ride-sharing to reduce vehicle numbers. These applications can reduce CO2 emissions, traffic jams, road accidents, travel costs and travel. It can also improve access to public spaces, jobs, goods and services.
Ensuring accessibility to smart solutions However, AI and machine learning do not necessarily guarantee better mobility outcomes for all groups. Efforts need to be made to expand the accessibility of new tools. For example, in the Brussels-Capital Region (Belgium), the main users of car-sharing services tend to be from high-income groups, young (26–39 years old), university graduates (69% of users) and male (77% of users).
AI and machine learning
Smart mobility projects across cities Regulations for safety and inclusivity do not necessarily Although AI’s integration with Greater efforts are also needed to guarantee better mobility generate robust evidence on the smart city projects is still in the early stages, we can already see safety record of smart mobility outcomes for all groups. promising examples. Phoenix, US projects to build trust. Regulations Efforts need to be made to need to be adapted to enable the has introduced the first commercial driverless taxi service to disincentivise safe use of new technologies and expand the accessibility car ownership. Singapore and Los services. Furthermore, cities need Angeles, US use AI to reduce traffic to strengthen their data governance of new tools. congestion and emissions. capacity and capability. Dublin is piloting digital twin Ultimately, local political leadership projects to allow for citizens’ feedback on areas, such as will determine whether and how the opportunities urban planning, including transport infrastructure. While offered by AI are exploited. To make the most of these São Paulo, Brazil uses AI and data analytics to predict air opportunities, cities need to strengthen digital skills and pollution and enable local authorities to take preventative governance. They must also hard-wire alignment with steps and manage traffic flows; Chicago, US used them to their social and environmental objectives if they are to optimise the management of its bike-sharing programme deliver on their potential to make our cities smarter and to support a tripling in its fleet of bikes. more inclusive.
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Making circularity in transport a reality in Ireland In a world of constant change and an increased focus on sustainability, it becomes crucial for every automotive manufacturer to take on responsibility for shaping the future of transport and mobility.
Helen Westby Managing Director, BMW Group Ireland
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t BMW Group Ireland, we have put sustainability and circularity at the centre of our strategic direction because the future of our business and society depends on it. We aim to be the most sustainable premium manufacturer in the world, and this is being achieved through clear, transparent targets that allow efficiency through innovation. Electromobility: effort for an electrified future As the first German automotive manufacturer to join the ‘Business Ambition for 1.5° Celsius’ and because of our commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement, we aim to reduce our CO2 emissions per vehicle by 40% by 2030 to contribute to the goal of complete climate neutrality throughout the entire value chain. Being a leader in electromobility and assuming responsibility throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle is paramount. So far, we’ve delivered a total of over 1.5 million electrified vehicles to customers around the world. We are also working to expand our offering for convenient charging. Customers should be able to charge anywhere — in public spaces, at work and at home. Our new generation of cars, called NEUE KLASSE, will be the main driver of electromobility. These cars will be vastly different in terms of vehicle architecture and will set new standards for digitalisation and circularity as we aim to increase the average of fully electric vehicles on the road to 50% per year between 2025 and 2030. Potential of hydrogen as an alternative fuel Not only are we innovating our battery technology but we also recognise the role alternative fuel cell technologies, such as hydrogen, could play. Green hydrogen is the energy system of the future, with wide-scale ability, unique long-distance capabilities and fast refuelling. With over 40 years of experience with hydrogen technology and more than 20 years in hydrogen fuel cell technology, we released the BMW iX5 Hydrogen range early this 2023. Moreover, we aim to promote further expansion of the hydrogen filling station infrastructure and permanently work on the development of alternative fuels.
The BMW i Vision Circular at the One Young World Conference in Belfast this year
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BMW staff attend litter picking event with Picker Pals earlier this year
Sustainability in the community Our commitment is not only to the cars and motorbikes we produce but also to our employees and across communities. We have partnered with Picker Pals, a school programme delivered across Ireland, which aims to reduce the amount of waste in our communities and create environmental stewards of the future. We are also working closely with Cancer Fund for Ireland as our official charity partner. Our MINI team in Ireland partnered earlier this year with Earthwatch Europe to bring the Tiny Forest initiative to Ireland, which aims to deliver 600 native trees to a community-based rehabilitation programme. Across our partnerships and initiatives, we demonstrate our commitment to circularity, charity and sustainable mobility. Circularity throughout the value chain Circularity means systematically increasing raw material content for all materials and therefore relying on ‘monomaterials’ rather than ‘multi-materials.’ We are committed to making the recycling chain more transparent and extending the value of our products by using fewer resources and returning materials into the production loop — rather than disposing of them. To us, a circular economy involves modifying design processes, using resources more efficiently and closing material loops. Hence, we aim to increase the percentage of secondary material in our vehicles from just under 30% today to 50% going forward. This is demonstrated in our new communication and experience platform ‘RE:BMW Circular Lab.’ The ‘RE: THINK, RE: USE, RE: CYCLE’ strategy represents a core component of our future product development and sustainability agenda. The most present effort in favour of a circular economy is being demonstrated by the BMW iVision Circular — our ambitious plan to become the most sustainable manufacturer for individual premium mobility.
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Find out more at bmw.ie
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Ways to adopt greater sustainability in road haulage The need for greater sustainability in haulage is driven by several, interconnected factors. Addressing these issues is crucial for the wellbeing of the environment, society and the long-term viability of the freight transportation industry.
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ransportation, particularly with traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles, contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions; but we are seeing advancements in technology, which are improving the efficiency of road haulage.
Simon McKeever Chief Executive Officer, Irish Exporters Association
Technology in road haulage Hauliers are adopting alternative fuels like compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) or biodiesel. We are seeing an uptake in investment in fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles, such as hybrid or electric trucks. However, range and charging remain challenges for the latter source of energy. Route and load optimisation is an increasingly common practice among hauliers. Using technology to optimise routes and reduce the distance travelled while minimising fuel consumption helps to reduce emissions. Optimised cargo loads also help to ensure trucks carry the maximum amount of goods while helping to reduce the number of trips required to transport goods. Sustainable practices across supply chain Our members in the road transportation sector are acutely aware of the need to adopt more sustainable practices. The Irish Exporters Association urges hauliers to take advantage of all available incentives and subsidies for this adaptation. Renewable energy sources should be considered for powering facilities and charging electric vehicles, such
Global impact of sustainable haulage Governments around the world are implementing and tightening regulations related to emissions and environmental impact. Adapting to sustainable haulage practices is crucial for compliance with current and future regulations. Countries and organisations worldwide have committed to reducing carbon emissions to mitigate the climate crisis. Sustainable practices in haulage are essential for meeting these targets. The need for greater sustainability in haulage is driven by environmental concerns, regulatory pressures, economic considerations and changing societal expectations. Embracing sustainable practices is not only a responsibility but also a strategic imperative for the long-term success of the haulage industry.
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EV charging infrastructure: how to help the nation move efficiently
as solar or wind energy. The Government should support the development of eco-friendly infrastructure, such as dedicated lanes for electric vehicles; more charging stations at strategic locations is a must. The road transport sector is working closely with suppliers and customers to promote sustainability throughout the entire supply chain, from manufacturing to transportation and delivery. Carbon onsetting is being utilised to balance out emissions that cannot be avoided. This involves direct investment and involvement in local projects; working collaboratively with these projects to reduce or capture an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases.
Electric vehicle (EV) charging is the new ‘hot topic’ for current and prospective EV owners — at home, in the office and on the move across the country.
A Matthew Sealy Chairperson, Irish EV Association
t the Irish EV Association (IEVA), we have seen the early adopters’ concerns around ‘range anxiety’ shift as we head towards the early majority stage of EV adoption — where EVs have much better range — but the charging infrastructure is a concern. Battery electric vehicle adoption According to car sales statistics for the current year, plug-in vehicles now account for over one in four sales, with battery electric vehicles (BEV) approaching one-fifth of total sales. For BEV, this is a 50% increase in 2022 and close to a 300% increase compared to 2021 figures. With this trend continuing into the next two
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years, close to half of all cars sold will be fully electric. Analysis of EV charging habits We regularly run analyses of charging habits and gauge EV usage and issues. From our home charging survey, close to 90% of those surveyed charge at home, with off-street parking being the predominant place to charge. So, how do we help those without a dedicated parking location or when they are away from home? We found that when current EV owners are away from home, they use the public network infrequently and mainly when taking longer journeys. Our analysis of the public en-route charging network earlier
this year showed an inadequacy in the current network, with several M-category roads having zero charging infrastructure available. Based on the existing internal combustion engine (ICE) refuelling network, we project that the existing network needs to grow 12-fold to match this by 2030. Things are looking up for EVs Since our analysis at the start of the year, we have seen hubs arrive on some M-category routes. With currently approved planning permission applications, some of our main routes can hit our 2025 en-route charging analysis. The EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) has been signed into law, establishing charging infrastructure requirements on Europe’s core transport routes, with specific deployment targets for 2025 and beyond. Through our conversations with charge point operators (CPOs) and Government offices, such as ZEVI (Zero Emissions Vehicles Ireland), we observe that there will be a lot of public charging to come in 2024–25. The framework is being put in place, and while not as visible as we would like to see, CPOs, ZEVI and city councils are setting up plans to produce an adequate public charging network.
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Innovative steps for airports to reduce carbon emissions Delivering significant carbon emission reductions is challenging for the airport sector.
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elivering carbon emission reductions is particularly challenging for the aviation sector, as airports play a key role in facilitating journeys. Apart from flights, airports generate carbon through activities such as vehicle movements, energy use in buildings and passenger journeys between terminals.
Andrea Carroll Group Head of Sustainability, DAA
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Decarbonising transport will be an important step for the almost 3,000 daa employees and the 20,000 who travel to and from work at the airport every day.
Alternative fleet fuels A shift away from fossil fuels has seen a switch to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as a transition fuel for heavy vehicles, such as tractors and snow ploughs, until an Fostering a climate-positive culture electrification option becomes available. daa, the company that operates Dublin and Cork airports, “The immediate impact is a 90% reduction carbon aims to reach net zero emissions by 2050 with initiatives reduction as compared to diesel fuel,” adds Carroll. to decarbonise buildings and the campus transport fleet “Providing our own renewables is going to be a key pillar while improving the local environment. of how we are going to decarbonise.” By 2025, its entire Group Head of Sustainability Andrea light fleet of vehicles at Dublin Airport will Carroll points to a transition away from fossil electric, and daa is working with ground Decarbonisation be fuels into the generation of renewable energy partners in its sustainable approach — has become from onsite renewables, such as its solar and with the Government and airlines on farm, alongside creating a climate-positive sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). ‘everybody’s culture among its workforce and passengers. job’ within the It has also signed up to the UN Global Air quality and diesel Compact — which encourages businesses As one of Ireland’s largest ground transport business. worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially hubs, one area that remains challenging responsible policies — as part of its wider for air quality is the depot for diesel buses. ESG position. They have looked at several options to address this and have seen promise in an innovative technology that uses Three principles for sustainability microalgae installed at bus shelter walls to ‘filter specific Decarbonisation; circularity with zero-waste operations; pollutants out of the air.’ creating healthy local environments are three principles Carroll underlines the importance of the aviation sector underpinning its sustainability ethos. Decarbonisation showing leadership in the journey to net zero: “We are has become ‘everybody’s job’ within the business, says often seen as a hard sector to decarbonise; that’s why it’s Carroll — with 130 personnel trained as sustainability more important for us to take on this challenge. After all, ambassadors to identify areas for improvement. we have a world to connect, a future to protect.”
Why electric cars are the way forward to changing behaviours on greener options
there are 107,000 fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road. Emer Barry, Programme Manager, says: “The target for 2025 is 175,000 EVs on the road; as it stands, we will reach that target. By 2030, the goal is just shy of 1 million, but we have already seen a massive 44% year-onyear increase in the sales of electric vehicles.”
Electric vehicles are providing the gateway for greater changes in how people will act when it comes to options for transport, which will help to meet targets for reducing emissions.
W Emer Barry Programme Manager, Electric Vehicles & Demand Generation, SEAI
Shane Prendergast Programme Manager, EV Charging Infrastructure & Smart Networks, SEAI
hile electric vehicles are leading the charge to decarbonise transport in Ireland, it’s changing the mindset and behaviours of its people who will make the difference and help reach the target of a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030. Analysing the impact of daily transport The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is encouraging people to make the switch to electric cars by not just expressing their environmental virtues but also rethinking how they get from A to B. Shane Prendergast, Programme Manager, says: “It’s not all about how people fuel their cars but getting them to think differently about
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how they travel. If we can combine electrification with the ‘Avoid, Shift and Improve’ behavioural ethos, then you are getting a full picture of how you can decarbonise transport. How to shift transport mindsets • Avoid - Consider if a journey is really necessary or reducing and/ or combining journeys to do more than one thing. • Shift - Use a different mode of transport such as public transport, cycling or walking. • Improve - If you need to make a journey in your car, use an electric car. Electric vehicles (EVs) arrived in Ireland circa 2010/11. Currently,
Promoting electric vehicle use Reluctance to switch to electricpowered cars has been fuelled by fears of not making the distance on long journeys, but the National EV Charging Strategy from Ireland’s Department of Transport is investing in ensuring there are charging points every 60 kilometres. The SEAI offers generous home charger grants of around 600 euros for purchasing and installing a charge point at home. In July last year, it widened the scope to include those who live without off-street parking, such as apartment block residents, with the multi-user dwelling charger grant. Other initiatives include the annual Electric Vehicle Dealership awards, launched three years ago to encourage car dealerships to promote sales of electric cars and be recognised for their efforts. If people in Ireland took advantage of these initiatives and benefits, it could be easier to decarbonise transport.
Find out more at daa.ie
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Head to the SEAI website for its Total Cost of Ownership online tool to calculate and compare the costs of owning a petrol or diesel car with an electric one.
Written by Sheree Hanna
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Targeted investment and talent development: cornerstones of infrastructure delivery Effective investment in infrastructure is vital to enabling sustainability, health and wellbeing as well as long-term prosperity.
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igh-quality infrastructure is an important element of a modern society and economy. It strengthens economic growth through job creation and enhances efficiency, productivity and competitiveness. How infrastructure meets economic needs From strategies such as Project Ireland 2040 — which aims to provide for the housing and infrastructure needs of an extra one million people on our island — to the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) and Climate Action Plan, correctly targeted investment underpins social cohesion by providing vital facilities, such as housing, broadband, clean water, transport and energy infrastructure for our citizens.
Damien Owens Director General, Engineers Ireland
Benefits of targeted investment The recent €12.8 billion investment in infrastructure as part of Budget 2024 shows the Government’s commitment to deliver the NDP, which will bring long-term, sustainable economic and societal benefits to Ireland. The Government has also reaffirmed their commitment to capital investment with a total public investment of €165 billion over the 2021–2030 period as detailed in the NDP. This will bring public investment to 5% of gross national income. This capital investment will sustain over 80,000 construction jobs annually, with a priority focus on solutions to strengthen our housing, climate ambitions, broadband, transport, healthcare, jobs in regions and economic renewal for the decade ahead. Role of engineers and aspiring engineers Engineers are responsible for providing the social, economic and productive infrastructure required to sustain growth and competitiveness and attract foreign direct investment. Engineers are in high demand. We must encourage more young people to enter and remain in the engineering sector, including construction and energy generation areas, which are vital to the growth of our economy. We must also innovate to increase the capacity of our sector and collaborate to promote the rewarding careers engineering has to offer. I would encourage young people thinking about applying through the CAO or pursuing apprenticeship opportunities in 2024 to actively consider a career with unmatched opportunities in engineering. Students and those returning to education who accept an apprenticeship or an engineering course at third level will be part of a profession that is playing, and will continue to play, a pivotal role in our green and digital future.
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For more information, visit: engineersireland.ie
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The road transport sector is working closely with suppliers and customers to promote sustainability throughout the entire supply chain, from manufacturing to transportation and delivery. ~Simon McKeever, Chief Executive Officer, Irish Exporters Association
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