What is it about?

As a result of the great response to the call for papers, we are delighted to contribute to the comprehension of future transport systems by publishing a range of papers in this Special Issue which shines the spotlight on the contribution that ITS can make to enhancing the energy efficiency of our transport systems. These papers explore the interaction between ITS and energy efficiency for both conventional vehicles and emerging types of vehicles, such as hybrids and fully electric vehicles. Although most of the papers are focussed on road transport applications, one of the selected papers focuses on rail transport.

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Why is it important?

Transport systems around the world would quickly grind to a halt without adequate energy supplies. Not only is energy an essential input to our transport systems, but their scale means that transport energy use is a major component of the overall energy demand. Transport accounts for about 20 per cent of the global energy use, but it can account for as much as one third of the energy consumption in industrialised countries, sometimes even more. The International Energy Agency expects the total transport energy consumption to double by 2050, given the present trends.

Perspectives

Although the development of reliable, low carbon fuels is important, energy efficiency is emerging as a critical transport issue of both short and long term significance. To date, much of the emphasis on vehicle energy efficiency has focussed on fuel and engine technologies. However, the complementary role that Intelligent Transport Systems can play in improving transport energy efficiency is now being recognised.

Prof. Bruno DALLA CHIARA
Politecnico di Torino

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Guest Editorial, IET Intelligent Transport Systems, June 2015, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (the IET),
DOI: 10.1049/iet-its.2015.0083.
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