Moving at short distance

Technology

Solutions for convenient ‘clean’ transportation (‘soft modes’) have re-emerged last decades. One can list three distinct possibilities: no-power or low-power (assistance) solutions like standard or electric bikes, scooter, skates and walking; non-fossil or partially non fossil-fuel powered engines like electric and hybrid cars; and finally public transportation.

Electric power seems to be one solution for short distance routes when one can not walk or bicycle, as it offers convenient autonomy. Moreover, the issue of batteries lacking power is almost solved, except the price aspect: they had indeed to be high capacity, lightweight, durable and safe. Lithium-polymer (Li-Po) technology answers to all theses constraints, except that its price is still tremendously high. Eonyx for instance is great (Li-Po, 48 V, 25Ah, 10 kg), i.e. half the weight of a sealed lead battery with twice the power, but price is 1500$!

Behavior

Public authorities, and especially town authorities, are more and more aware of negative impacts of fossil fuel transport (pollution, traffic jam, space consumption). Incentives for people coming to work through ‘soft modes’ – discounts on monthly or yearly tickets negotiated between the company, the district and the transportation company are more and more developed, as incentives for ‘work from home’ solutions.

Land management (living and working in places near each other) is also one solution explored in “green area”, which avoids cars, as some areas in Freiburg.

Future

Next cars’ generation should overcome some issues through electric and hybrid (electricity and bio-fuel) technologies. However, the future of short distance transport relies on individual ‘non-invasive’ solutions (bikes) and public transportations like river shuttles and buses supplied by alternative fuels.

Electric bicycles are expected to widespread in our cities, as they achieve a ‘factor 100’ compared to cars( ), but even conventional buses already produce 50 times less CO2 by user than individual cars.

From Left to right:

• Electric school buses in Chiang Mai (China)
• One of the numerous electric bikes already available for reasonable price (pictured: Lashout bicycle, 700$)
• The ex-prime minister of Japan Junichiro Koizumi on a new mean of transportation: the Segway
• Walking and running, the ultimate ‘green’ transportation? Featuring the French president Nicolas Sarkozy