Challenges in City Transport - Alternative Fuels and Door to Door Model

Abstract

The upcoming peak oil and the impact of exhaust emissions are threatening mobility and, as a consequence, the economy and the social live. City transport causes the biggest part of road transport emissions. Besides, by engaging mainly fossil fuels in the city transport, we are the most responsible for pollution of the places where more than 80% of the world population live in - urban areas. On the other hand, transport in city area of all types, (private and public, individual and mass) may contribute substantially in declining of the use of fossil fuels, by application of various means. Some of them may be very effective and not too expensive like for instance: 1) to switch on electricity and Hydrogen as a clean driving energy and 2) introduction of flexible transport (door to door, on demand, etc.) which enables to decrease the number of cars in urban centers to avoid congestions. This paper points out that city transport has a special role in the process of decreasing fossil fuel dependence, and the necessity for rapid alternative technology implementation, as well as development of the city transport system itself. Proposed is the introduction of door to door transportation model that offers a comfort comparable to personal cars (specifically for handicapped persons) and helps to lowering congestions on the roads.