Transport, climate protection is rapidly effective

Even if the public transport in Switzerland is doing excellent in a European comparison: Our country is a Autoland. About 38 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions come from the transport sector, of which around three-quarters of cars and trucks, the Rest is caused by the air and ship traffic.

It is not surprising, therefore, that Konstantinos Boulouchos looks at the traffic, an urgent need for measures to meet the obligations in the framework of the Paris climate agreement. The Professor of energy technology at ETH Zurich has led a European group of researchers, which reveals in a new report by the European academies network, as in Europe, a mobility without combustion of fossil fuels can be achieved.

First of all, what is fast

The report is almost a guide that is addressed to politicians and authorities. The list of measures presented Bouchoulos yesterday in the house of the academies of Sciences in Bern, is a long one. Most of the recommendations are long-term at about the rearrangement of the motorized traffic on the rail and the public transport or the development of synthetic fuels as a substitute for gasoline and Diesel.

Boulouchos is important, however, that those measures should be a priority, which can be implemented relatively quickly in the next 10 to 15 years – the so-called low-hanging fruit, as he says himself. Technical improvements in gasoline include, for example, drive and diesel cars and Hybrid and electric vehicles. In contrast to heating systems in buildings, according to the authors of the report come to the conclusion, the vehicle fleet in Europe within 20 years to renew.

Switzerland is lagging behind

The EU has the technical progress in their emission targets for new passenger cars into account. By 2021 cars in the EU are allowed to shot an average of 130 grams of CO2 per kilometre, however, there is a clear cut. For new cars only emissions of 95 grams of CO2 is in the agent admitted. The Switzerland will take on this goal. For François Launaz, the President of the Association of Swiss automobile importers, but a brand that was not met.

last year, the average CO2 of new cars amounted to fleet of 138 grams per kilometre – much higher than the EU average of under 120 grams. "A tightening of more than 40 grams, is enormous," says Launaz. The Federal government hopes with this measure, an electric car Boom. The incentives were absent, in order the more expensive electric zuvermarkten vehicles, believes Launaz. There is a need for a model as in Norway. Also, the authors of the traffic report to stress the Norwegian concept.

Norway's government has introduced incentives, various Discounts and facilities. So buyers of emission exempt cars from the road levy. You can free Parking and bus lane use. Those who opt for a pure electric car or a plug-in Hybrid vehicle whose battery is recharged from the power grid, receives an additional Bonus. Thus, the government wants to influence the choice of car. So far, this is obviously succeeded in doing. The concept is so successful that the demand in Norway is currently much greater than the range of electric cars.

Too early for electric cars

However, there is a crucial difference between the EU and Norway. In the Scandinavian country's electricity comes almost exclusively from hydroelectric power plants. In the EU, however, there is a large proportion of coal-fired electricity in the network. In Switzerland, coal, electricity flows partially. This means that as Long as coal-fired power plants to supply electricity, would be a Boom of pure electric cars in Europe too early.

"electrification is the goal, but currently, a hybrid would make more sense," says the ETH-scientists Konstantinos Boulouchos. He recommends, therefore, to consult with a car purchase carefully about a Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. These cars would cut emissions moderate at best. With hybridization, you would save, according to Boulouchos, about 25 percent of the fuel.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 06.04.2019, 08:33 PM