Innovative technologies for public transport

Abstract

This paper describes how, public transport systems are responsible for urban air pollution and their efficiency affects our daily lives and productivity. New advanced technologies have been developed in order to balance the negative effects of transport, in terms of air pollution, and also to improve mobility in city centers. This paper presents, after a short analysis of those effects, the state of the art of some of these technologies and how they can contribute to reduce such negative effects while improving transport efficiency. Among the innovative technologies presented, the so called ‘Tram-Train’ that offers a direct connection between the city center and the suburbs, eliminating the interchanges between train and public transport system has a specific relevance; the ‘advanced rubber-tired transport with guided running mode’ is also discussed: this system puts together the positive features of Tram systems, being powered electrically, and the flexibility of buses, having an onboard generator or batteries. Other technologies here included are: Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs); Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs); and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV). Also the Natural Gas Fuelled Vehicles (NGFV) can represent a solution for urban air pollution, in particular for lowering PM, CO and VOC emissions. The analysis of such technologies underlines how the problem of urban air pollution can be tackled through the adoption of new technologies for public transport systems.