GW Highways’ Post

With the popularization of electric vehicles, the construction of charging infrastructure will play a crucial role in the sustainable development of electric vehicles. The coverage of #charging stations directly affects the acceptance level of users towards electric vehicles. Although electricity may not be the sole alternative energy source for cars in the coming years, it is essential to establish and improve local electric vehicle #infrastructure as soon as possible.   Recently, the Staffordshire County Council announced that it is collaborating with four other local government authorities in the Midlands to develop an electric vehicle charging network. The UK Department for Transport has provided £4.6 million in funding to the council to increase the number of local charging points. Currently, Staffordshire has 428 electric vehicle charging points, but the council believes that the county will need over 5000 charging points by 2030. #power #electricalengineering #electric #EV #vehicle #renewableenergy #renewablepower #sustainability #environment #product #innovation #development #waterproof #chargingpile

Canadian province seeks more fuel cell vehicles on its roads. By JOHN MAX Experts say the infrastructure isn’t there but must be implemented for H2 to work Businesses in Alberta, Canada have been showing substantial interest in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and how they can be used to shrink greenhouse gas emissions from their commercial fleets. The province’s roads aren’t quite ready for an influx of H2 cars and trucks As interested as businesses in Alberta may be, the streets and highways aren’t equipped with the refueling infrastructure hydrogen fuel cell vehicles need to keep running.  The interest in using H2 only grew following the Canadian Hydrogen Convention at the end of last month. It bought 8,000 guests to Edmonton, the province’s capital city. That city and Calgary, another in the same province, are increasingly familiar with the clean energy technology as they have been part of several test projects. Among the most recent was the round-trip test journey of an H2-powered truck that was towing an empty trailer. It went from one city to the other as part of an Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) pilot project to better understand how the trucks would perform during long-haul trips. The hydrogen fuel vehicles have performed well As attendees of the convention discovered, the AMTA pilot had the vehicle travel about 375 miles, and upon completion, it still had over a third of its H2 tank left. The next step in that project will be another test involving the same trip only with a loaded trailer being hauled. https://lnkd.in/dy3jx7M9

On Friday, we revealed the first GRT electric bus, which will begin service next month as part of our zero-emission bus pilot project. Ten more electric buses are expected to arrive this year. This initiative is part of our plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. In 2020, we bid farewell to diesel-only buses and switched to hybrid and electric options. As part of our pilot project, we'll be gathering valuable data on how these battery-operated buses fare on various routes and driving conditions, all while seeking feedback from our valued customers. This information will shape our future service improvements and expansion plans over the next five years. GRT's electric fleet, sourced from Nova Bus, will call our state-of-the-art Northfield Drive Maintenance Facility in Waterloo its home. The facility is equipped with 12 chargers and the buses can be fully charged in just four hours! As more electric buses hit the road, there will be opportunities for the community to see them up close and learn more about the pilot project. We're grateful for the support of the Government of Canada's Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), alongside contributions from the Ontario Government | Gouvernement de l’Ontario. For more information on Grand River Transit’s electric bus program, visit grt.ca. #bus #electricbus #zeroemission #electrification #fleet #goinggreen 

Read all about it...! Ahead of tomorrow's General Election, I was pleased to feature in The Guardian to articulate our key "ask" of the incoming Government with regards to #NetZero and HGV/coach decarbonisation. Headline - that the new Government must focus efforts and investment in the energy infrastructure needed to power battery electric and hydrogen-powered lorries and coaches. The simple truth is that, without the means to power these vehicles, we are not going to see them on UK roads! #NetZeroForum #motortransport https://lnkd.in/eSKeZsvR

Dutch province's first #hydrogen train tender attracts zero bids The local government of Groningen is considering renting #H2 trains instead to run on its non-electrified #rail network from 2027 #trains #hydrogenmobility #fuelcells #fuelcell #hydrogennews #railways #railway #hydrogenenergy #hydrogentechnology https://lnkd.in/eT3v-AkH

NZ in electrical transition with so much interest and interaction - from the Electro-mobility conference and the British New Zealand Business Association - Electrification of Aotearoa through to the Auckland Transport and EV Maritime discussion tonight. The technology is here, but can we navigate the skills (people) and red tape (RMA etc.) to make this work? #electrification #electricvehicles #renewableenergy

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men often go awry. Robert Burns With El Niño snowfall will likely be below seasonal in Alberta and Saskatchewan and closer to average in Manitoba. It is already expected that 2024 will be warmer than 2023. This will mean that the demand for #electricity will be higher this summer and it may mean more #forestfires in the summertime. Last summer #oilproduction in Alberta fell dramatically during June due to forest fires. After completing a #machinelearning study it was found that dry lightning was the number one cause of forest fires with temperatures being one of the top 5 drivers. Already last year BC, Manitoba and Quebec had a drought so #hydroelectricity was down. Manitoba began to use #naturalgas to produce electricity by December which is early. With droughts the production of hydroelectricity has fallen. The Canadian Federal government expects electricity to be #netzero by 2035. To achieve this it will require more than $400 billion to replace facilities and expand capacity. Critics say the plan will drive up prices and possibly make electricity less reliable. The move away from natural gas has also caused the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) to reject an application from FortisBC to build a natural gas pipeline worth $327 million in the Okanagan region to provide natural gas to heat homes in B.C. This pipeline was needed to meet demand in the southern Interior over the next two decades. This project would have seen the installation of 30 kilometres of new #pipeline, running north from Penticton to Chute Lake, along with two new power stations to help regulate the pipeline's flow. We are also seeing many governments creating regulations that will see all passenger cars, SUVs, crossovers and light trucks sold by 2035 must be zero-emission vehicles (#zevs) part of the government's overall plan to combat #climatechange. With these policies being put into place #gasoline was supposed to begin its long goodbye this year but it didn’t. What we are seeing is EVs are piling up on car lots across the country as EVs are on the market an average 82 days versus 64 days for gas-powered vehicles and the slowing demand has caused automakers like Ford and GM to cut production. This is because EV list price is 28% higher than a gas vehicle last month and many are seeing costs to own an EV being higher than ICE vehicles with EVs costing an average of $65,202 during the first five years, while gas vehicles cost $56,962. The issue is making an expensive, long-term investment by purchasing an EV, even with the help of a tax credit, is still a major commitment in today’s inflationary market Governments need to reconsider many of their plans especially as peak demand of oil is not suppose to hit until 2030 and it should cause many to reconsider investing into oil and gas as they are moving towards #ccus to cut emissions. Forcing something will not make it happen.

Decarbonizing rail transportation is a political problem as much as a technological one.

♋Germany’s autobahn is known for its limitless speed. But its aging infrastructure isn’t up to the task of carrying the massive windmill towers and rotor blades needed for the country’s energy transition, and developers complain the highways are now slowing progress.Earlier this year, German haulers made a tedious detour transporting rotor blades from the port of Bremen to an onshore wind park in the north of the country. Instead of a highway route that normally takes about three hours, narrow curves and size restrictions forced them to spend three nights traveling triple the distance on alternative roads.Wind turbine producers say such situations are becoming a regular occurrence, warning that Germany’s autobahn – once hailed for its efficiency and unlimited speed – has turned into a massive roadblock for the country’s climate goals. About six new windmills have to be built every day for Germany to meet its aim of generating 80% of electricity from clean sources by 2030, requiring roughly 60,000 road transports per year.If turbines cannot be erected as planned, Germany’s green transition will be “on the brink of collapse,” more than 30 business associations warned in a recent statement. ➡️The problem is that the country’s highway network was largely built in the decades following World War II, and its infrastructure isn’t cut out for carrying huge rotor blades and steel tower segments, which can be about 35 meters (115 feet) long and weigh 80 metric tons. While that’s likely to be a challenge anywhere, even regular freight transports are facing mounting restrictions in Germany as deteriorating roads and bridges are often closed off to trucks. https://lnkd.in/dYQUu_8e ...

In view of the wind turbine blade's immense size and weight, moving it through an urban setting might present logistical challenges. An outline of possible methods is provided below: 💡Route Planning: Extensive route planning is essential to ensure that the transport vehicle can navigate through urban streets without encountering obstacles such as low bridges, narrow streets, or sharp turns. This may involve coordination with local authorities to obtain necessary permits and ensure road closures if required. 💡Specialized Transport Vehicle: Wind turbine blades are typically transported using specialized vehicles designed to accommodate their length and weight. These vehicles may include flatbed trailers, extendable trailers, or blade trailers specifically designed for transporting wind turbine components. 💡Escort Vehicles: Escort vehicles, such as pilot cars or police escorts, may accompany the transport vehicle to help manage traffic and ensure the safe passage of the oversized load through urban areas. 💡Traffic Management: Traffic management measures may be implemented to minimize disruption to other road users. This could include temporary road closures, traffic diversions, or scheduling the transport during off-peak hours to reduce congestion. 💡Safety Precautions: Safety is paramount during the transport of wind turbine blades. Proper securing of the blades to the transport vehicle is crucial to prevent shifting or damage during transit. Additionally, warning signs, flags, and lights may be used to alert other motorists to the presence of an oversized load on the road. 💡Coordination: Close coordination between the transport company, local authorities, and any relevant stakeholders is essential to ensure a smooth and safe transport operation. This may involve communication regarding the timing of the transport, any potential route changes, and emergency procedures. Overall, transporting a wind turbine blade in an urban environment requires careful planning, specialized equipment, and effective coordination to ensure the safety of both the transport crew and the public. #education #safety #engineering #planning #letsconnect #windenergy #technology #transportation #Traffic #management #equipments