P EUROPF FOP' IM
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Transport industry plots future trends in European logistics
Carbon footprint measurement can streamline operations, and the rising cost of oil will play its part.
steve.hobsonfarbi.co.uk TRANSPORT ACCOUNTS for 13% of global CO2 emissions, and yet there is no consensus on whether or not renewable energy sources would make significant inroads into our fossil fuel dependency in the next 20 years But most logistics companies have yet to recognise the risk to their business presented by the rising cost of oil and carbon emissions And operators must iirst measure their own carbon footprint so they can begin to track and reduce their environmental impact.
These were the findings of Delphi Research into future trends in logistics presented at the Truck Europe Forum held in Brussels last week, where a panel of European experts in transport and logistics. commissioned by consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), attempted to predict what logistics will look like in 2030.
A survey of European hauliers at the forum ranked fuel efficiency as the most important criteria they will apply to buying trucks by 2020. followed by coo-friendliness, price and safety.
Tobias Denys of consultancy Vito reported that a study of best practice among European hauliers found energy-efficient tyres could yield a 3% fuel saving, monitoring and training of drivers could cut consumption by 9%, and better aerodynamics could improve economy by 10%-15%.
Also, the study found switching to a natural gas/diesel dual-fuel vehicle could cut CO2 emissions by 80%. But Denys warned that even if such fuels prove technically viable for heavy trucks, the lack of refuelling infrastructure will hold back their widespread adoption.