Transport Revolutions: Moving People and Freight Without Oil By Richard Gilbert, Anthony Perl
Transport Revolutions: Moving People and Freight Without Oil
Publisher: Earthscan Publications Ltd. | 2008 | ISBN: 1844072487 | 368 pages | 4.46 Mb
Publisher: Earthscan Publications Ltd. | 2008 | ISBN: 1844072487 | 368 pages | 4.46 Mb
The lives of people around the world, particularly in developed countries, depend on relatively inexpensive movement of people and goods. Now, more than ever, the prospect of rising costs puts continuation of this transport dependence in question. Costs could rise significantly due to the needs to reduce pollution, reverse urban sprawl, enhance security and, above all, use fuel that will become dramatically more expensive than those used now.
This book sets out the challenges that will soon threaten modern society's dependence on low-cost transport in the light of the problems posed by oil supply and climate change. It proposes organizational and technical innovations that could ensure effective, secure movement of people and goods in ways that minimize environmental impacts and make the best use of renewable sources of energy. The authors conclude that transport in the first half of the 21st century will feature at least two revolutions. One will involve the use of electric drives rather than internal combustion engines. The other will involve powering these drives directly from the electric grid rather than from on-board fuel.