Covered in this week’s Green Mobility Policy Brief: UK Parliament introduces bill to minimise transport disruption caused by industrial action; Electric trucks; cheaper and more sustainable than the diesel alternative; Study reveals stagnation in Europe’s EV sales; 35,000 Rail Tickets to be received by young people, granted by DiscoverEU.
UK Parliament introduces bill to minimise transport disruption caused by industrial action. The now former UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss’, Government has introduced a bill which would shield public transport users from disruption caused by strikes and other forms of industrial action. According to the Government, “the Transport Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill means, even during the most disruptive of strikes, a certain level of services will still run. This will allow passengers to go to work, attend school and make vital medical appointments and allow businesses to continue to grow the economy.” Specifically, the legislation will seek to ensure that minimum transport services will be put in place during industrial action, and if not delivered, will impose penalties on trade unions. Such penalties include the loss of legal protections from damages. Speaking on the matter, Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “It is vital that public transport users have some continuity of service to keep Britain moving and growing – this legislation will give everyone the certainty they need to carry on with their daily lives.” Whilst trade unions have heavily criticised the proposed Bill, experts have noted that public transport strikes have had the effect of increasing private vehicle usage. Indeed, in a blog post, Dr Susan Kenyon, a Principal Lecturer in Politics at Canterbury Christ Church University noted that “there is potential that the strikes will have a very negative effect on how we feel about public transport, affecting perceptions of reliability, safety and the overall desirability of public transport, vis-à-vis other modes.” At this time, it is unclear whether the bill will be enacted into law in the coming months. – Thomas Jérémie Hayden-Lefebvre
Electric trucks; cheaper and more sustainable than the diesel alternatives. A recent study by independent experts, TNO, shows that effectively all new electric freight trucks (including long-haul), will be cheaper to run than diesel trucks, even when driving the same distances and carrying as much cargo. According to the study, 99.8% of new electric freight trucks will be cheaper to own and run by 2035, the year internal combustion engine models are forecasted to be phased out. The small gap to 100% can easily be solved by trucks making an extra charging stop, whilst still being cheaper to buy and run, cutting costs for hauliers. Nearly all freight trucks travelling in Europe cover less than 800km a day – easily within the range of the newest battery electric trucks if charged in the driver’s legally required breaks. Transport Environment (T&E), who commissioned the study with Agora Verkehrswende, claims the study answers any doubts over whether electric trucks are viable on cost and operational dimensions. – Bethan Alderson
Study reveals stagnation in Europe’s EV sales The senior director at Transport & Environment (T&E) Julia Poliscanova has accused Europe of having “slammed the brakes on their electric car offering” while China and the U.S. are “rapidly bringing new models to the market”. The latest figures from T&E show that electric vehicle sales fell from 13 % in the last half of 2021 to 11% in the first half of 2022, while China’s increased to 18% and the U.S by 50% in the same period. Supply-chain issues in Europe are cited as an overarching cause but the specific slack of Europe’s performance is put at the door of European lawmakers, who’s poor regulatory incentives are failing to encourage the production of EV’s. T&E recommends using EU funds and national measures and a bolstered commitment by the European Parliament and EU environment ministers for a 100% reduction in CO2 emissions for all new cars by 2035 to “accelerate” EV production beyond their current minimum targets. Another issue is the influx of Chinese manufactures into the European market, projected to increase from its current 5%, to 9-18% by 2025, which could put millions of future European jobs at risk. Anxiety at this has been mobilised by the populist right, like Italian politician Matteo Salvini, who critiques net-zero policy which can “fire people in Italy and give China an advantage”. Transport and Environment recommends Europe adopts a strong industrial policy that prioritises local sources, on the scale seen by the U.S.’s Inflation Reduction Act and China’s state incentives for electric vehicle production. Other recommendations include a commitment to a fully electrified corporate fleet by 2030, an opposition to tax credits and exemptions for e-fuels and a removal of the ZLEV benchmark. Current EU targets see EV sales up to 55% by 2030, but T&E predicts a voluntary commitment by manufacturers helped by the right EU incentives could increase the share to 75% saving 135 MtCO2 in emissions. Poliscanova sums up that “the continent’s climate and jobs are at stake” if Europe does not provide “muscular support for EV’s”. – Ollie Jenkins
35,000 Rail Tickets to be received by young people, granted by DiscoverEU. 35,000 young people will be awarded a rail pass to explore Europe, thanks to the DiscoverEU autumn call, released by the Commission last week. Applicants from the Erasmus+ programme can apply on the European Youth Portal, between the 11-25 October, where they have the chance to win by answering 6 questions on general knowledge about the European Union and their initiatives for young people. Applicants born in 2004, and who have successfully completed the questions, will then have the chance to explore Europe for up to 30 days between March 2023 and February 2024, gaining the opportunity to visit destinations on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the European Capitals of Culture. The programme aims to support young people in gaining travel experience, improving foreign language skills and understanding other cultures and European history, whilst promoting sustainability – particularly travel by rail. – Bethan Alderson
"Kulingana na ripoti ya Green Mobility Policy Brief, ""Bunge la Uingereza linawasilisha muswada wa kupunguza usumbufu wa usafiri unaosababishwa na hatua za viwanda, malori ya umeme, ya bei nafuu na endelevu zaidi kuliko mbadala wa dizeli, utafiti unafunua kusimamishwa kwa mauzo ya magari ya umeme ya Ulaya, na vijana watapokea tiketi 35,000 za reli.""" Bunge la Uingereza limewasilisha muswada wa kupunguza usumbufu wa usafiri unaosababishwa na hatua za viwanda. Waziri Mkuu wa zamani wa Uingereza Liz Truss ameweka sheria mpya ya ulinzi wa umma dhidi ya mgomo wa wafanyakazi Kulingana na Serikali, <unk>Mkataba wa Mgomo wa Usafiri (Viwango vya Kiwango cha Chini cha Huduma) unamaanisha, hata wakati wa mgomo wenye kusumbua zaidi, kiwango fulani cha huduma bado kitaendelea. Hii itawawezesha abiria kwenda kazini, kwenda shule na kufanya miadi muhimu ya matibabu na kuruhusu biashara kuendelea kukuza uchumi. <unk> Kwa mfano, sheria itajaribu kuhakikisha kwamba huduma za chini za usafiri zitawekwa wakati wa hatua za kazi, na ikiwa hazitapewa, zitaweka adhabu kwa vyama vya wafanyakazi. Adhabu hizo zinatia ndani kupoteza ulinzi wa kisheria dhidi ya uharibifu. "Katika taarifa yake, Katibu wa Usafiri Anne-Marie Trevelyan alisema: ""Ni muhimu kwamba watumiaji wa usafiri wa umma wawe na huduma ya kuendelea ili kuweka Uingereza ikiendelea na kukua, sheria hii itawapa kila mtu uhakika wanaohitaji kuendelea na maisha yao ya kila siku." "Katika chapisho lake la blog, Susan Kenyon, Mwalimu Mkuu wa Sera ya Siasa katika Chuo Kikuu cha Canterbury Christ Church, alisema: ""Kuna uwezekano kwamba mgomo utakuwa na athari mbaya sana kwa jinsi tunavyohisi juu ya usafiri wa umma, kuathiri maoni ya kuegemea, usalama na kuvutia kwa jumla kwa usafiri wa umma, ikilinganishwa na njia zingine."  Thomas Jérémie Hayden-Lefebvre Magari ya kubebea umeme; ya bei nafuu na endelevu zaidi kuliko njia mbadala za dizeli. Utafiti wa hivi karibuni uliofanywa na wataalamu wa kujitegemea, TNO, unaonyesha kuwa kwa ufanisi malori yote mapya ya mizigo ya umeme (ikiwa ni pamoja na umbali mrefu) yatakuwa ya bei nafuu kuliko malori ya dizeli, hata wakati wa kuendesha umbali sawa na kubeba mizigo mingi. Kulingana na utafiti huo, 99.8% ya malori mapya ya mizigo ya umeme yatakuwa ya bei nafuu kumiliki na kuendesha ifikapo mwaka 2035, mwaka ambao mifano ya injini za mwako wa ndani inatarajiwa kuondolewa. Upungufu mdogo wa 100% unaweza kutatuliwa kwa urahisi na malori kufanya kituo cha ziada cha malipo, wakati bado ni nafuu kununua na kuendesha, kupunguza gharama kwa waendeshaji. Karibu malori yote ya mizigo kusafiri katika Ulaya kusafiri chini ya 800km kwa siku - kwa urahisi ndani ya mbalimbali ya malori ya umeme ya betri ya hivi karibuni kama kushtakiwa katika breaks dereva kisheria required. T&E, ambayo iliagiza utafiti huo na Agora Verkehrswende, inadai utafiti huo unashughulikia mashaka yoyote juu ya ikiwa malori ya umeme yanafaa kwa gharama na vipimo vya uendeshaji. "Mwanzilishi wa kampuni ya magari ya umeme ya T&E, Julia Poliskova, amesisitiza kuwa ""Uropa imesababisha kuzorota kwa bidhaa za magari ya umeme"" na ""China na Marekani zinaanzisha haraka bidhaa mpya.""" Takwimu za hivi karibuni kutoka T&E zinaonyesha kuwa mauzo ya magari ya umeme yalipungua kutoka 13% katika nusu ya mwisho ya 2021 hadi 11% katika nusu ya kwanza ya 2022, wakati Uchina iliongezeka hadi 18% na Amerika kwa 50% katika kipindi hicho. "Maswala ya ""mfululizo wa usambazaji"" katika Ulaya yanatajwa kama sababu kuu, lakini ""ukosefu wa utendaji wa Ulaya"" ni kuweka mlangoni wa wabunge wa Ulaya, ambao ni vichocheo duni vya udhibiti ambao wanashindwa kuhamasisha uzalishaji wa EVs." T&E inapendekeza kutumia fedha za EU na hatua za kitaifa na kujitolea kwa kuimarishwa na Bunge la Ulaya na mawaziri wa mazingira wa EU kwa kupunguzwa kwa 100% ya uzalishaji wa CO2 kwa magari yote mapya hadi 2035, ili kuharakisha uzalishaji wa EV zaidi ya malengo yao ya sasa ya chini. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""mtiririko wa bidhaa za China kwenye soko la Ulaya, unaotarajiwa kuongezeka kutoka asilimia 5 ya sasa hadi asilimia 9 hadi 18 ifikapo mwaka 2025, ambayo inaweza kuhatarisha mamilioni ya kazi za Ulaya za baadaye.""" Wasiwasi juu ya hili umehamasishwa na haki ya watu mashuhuri, kama mwanasiasa wa Italia Matteo Salvini, ambaye anakosoa sera ya sifuri ya wavu ambayo inaweza "kufukuza watu nchini Italia na kutoa China faida". "Tunapendekeza Ulaya ipate sera kali ya viwanda ambayo inatoa kipaumbele kwa vyanzo vya ndani, kwa kiwango kilichoonekana na Sheria ya Kupunguza Mfumuko wa Bei ya Marekani na motisha za serikali za China kwa uzalishaji wa magari ya umeme. """ """Tunaomba kuwa na meli za umeme za kutosha kufikia 2030 na kupinga mikopo ya kodi na msamaha kwa mafuta ya umeme na kuondoa kiwango cha ZLEV." Lengo la sasa la EU linaona mauzo ya EV hadi 55% ifikapo 2030, lakini T&E inatarajia kujitolea kwa hiari na watengenezaji, wakisaidiwa na motisha sahihi ya EU, inaweza kuongeza sehemu hiyo hadi 75%, kuokoa 135 Mt CO2 katika uzalishaji. Poliscanova anakata kauli kwamba "hali ya hewa ya bara na ajira ziko hatarini" ikiwa Ulaya haitatoa "msaada wa misuli kwa EVs". "Ollie Jenkins, ""Vipande vya tiketi 35,000 vya reli vilivyotolewa na DiscoverEU." Vijana 35,000 watapewa tiketi ya treni ya kugundua Ulaya, shukrani kwa wito wa DiscoverEU wa vuli, iliyotolewa na Tume wiki iliyopita. Waombaji wa programu ya Erasmus + wanaweza kuomba kwenye Uwanja wa Vijana wa Ulaya kati ya Oktoba 11 na 25, ambapo wana nafasi ya kushinda kwa kujibu maswali sita juu ya maarifa ya jumla juu ya Umoja wa Ulaya na mipango yao kwa vijana. Waombaji waliozaliwa mwaka 2004 na ambao wamekamilisha maswali hayo, watapata nafasi ya kutembelea Ulaya kwa siku 30 kati ya Machi 2023 na Februari 2024, wakipata fursa ya kutembelea maeneo yaliyo kwenye orodha ya urithi wa ulimwengu wa UNESCO na miji mikuu ya utamaduni ya Ulaya. Programu ina lengo la kusaidia vijana katika kupata uzoefu wa kusafiri, kuboresha ujuzi wa lugha za kigeni na kuelewa tamaduni nyingine na historia ya Ulaya, wakati wa kukuza uendelevu - hasa kusafiri kwa reli. <unk> Bethan Alderson