|
In the consultation document, "FROM WORKHORSE TO THOROUGHBRED A better role for bus travel", no direct attention e.g. a section of its own, is given [although there is indirect attention e.g. in 1.1, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1, 4.6, 5.2 and 10.9], to the opportunity to achieve substantial improvement to the local environment of our urban streets and to the environment in general, by encouraging more environmentally friendly bus propulsion systems.
In particular, no attention is given to the opportunity to encourage electric buses.
The environmental advantages of electric vehicles are, or should be, well known, but are worth summarising:-
1.Zero emissions in the streets
2.Lowest possible noise levels
3.Lowest possible emissions into the environment as a whole 4.Lowest possible consumption of non renewable resources 5.Lowest possible release of 'green house' gases like CO2
Advantages 1 and 2 are, hopefully, obvious, and well worth having in their own right.
Advantages 3, 4 and 5 are linked and are due to the simple fact that a small number of large stationary energy converters [power stations] offer the following environmental advantages over a large number of small mobile energy converters [internal combustion engines]:-
A.Much higher conversation efficiencies - hence less fuel
consumption and less CO2 production - in large fixed plant
operating under stable conditions than small mobile plants
operating under continually varying conditions B.Ability to control emissions like CO, NOx, SOx, HCs or
particulates, more readily in large fixed plant operating
|
