CO2 - Planes, Trains and Cars.

Global warming, is it the inconvenient truth as told by Al Gore?

Can we do something about it?

What should we do about it?

Well in the perspective of planes, trains and cars I want to answer as much as I can.

So we have

1) Aircraft.

· Highest output of CO2 every year comes from flying.

· More flights are in used every day due to customer demand.

· More flights by lost cost airlines.

"The two commercial aerospace giants Boeing and Airbus believe that the industry can sustain itself against the increasing number of travellers each year. Airbus is forecasting a doubling of passenger numbers within the next 20 years. Also it believes that that between now and 2030, airlines will need to order more than 29,000 new aircraft to cater for increasing demand and to replace ageing and obsolete models. Boeing takes a similar view. Although it predicts that airlines will need more than 33,000 new aircraft over the same period." - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15571107

This is worrying except for 1 key fact.

Both airbus and Boeing are working alongside engine manufacturers to manufacture aircraft which reduce CO2 emissions per km and increase fuel efficiency. The smallest thing that has helped aircraft with emissions has been the introduction of 'sharkeys' or wing tip fins. These allow the plane to use 95+% of it wing to create lift therefore making the engine more efficient, without changing the engine.

The most recent example of this is the Boeing 787 recently released after 3 years of delays. Airbus also has a similar plan in a new airline family - A350 XWB.

"Boeing made the 787 Dreamliner to be most sophisticated plane built so far. It’s the first airliner whose fuselage made out of a composite material rather than the normal aluminium sheets riveted together. Its therefore lighter and faster due to better weight to thrust ratio, the engine makers who provide the engines (Rolls-Royce and General Electric) say that it will emit 20% less carbon dioxide than similarly-sized planes do today." - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10435529

So with these facts, airline manufacturers are making much headway into reducing their products effect on the environment. However this appears like any gains will be countered by increasing the number of planes in the sky. I believe this is okay so long as more efficient technology is being researched too.

2) Trains.

· The least amount of CO2 emitting form of transport when you look at electric railways.

· Still half and half, plenty of diesel engines still in use alongside newer electric engines.

Trains the only problems consumers find with trains especially in the UK is prices. Even for a simple 10 minute journey you could be looking at £3 for a single journey, however on a bus it would be £1.80 approximately and for bigger distances, e.g. Liverpool to London - between £80/£150 return for a 2.5 hour journey. Buses again are a lot cheaper, looking a National Express Liverpool to London- £30, this however takes 3 times as long.

It just depends on where you want to go too.

Train services providers in the UK are actively encouraged to switch to electric trains, but the upgrading of the tracks to electric is expensive and therefore only new tracks are normally electric.

Diesel engines however are being made to have more power with better fuel economy and efficiency.

3) Cars.

3 types -

· Normal every day.

· Luxury every day.

· Supercars

Supercars - every young boy normally dreams of one day owning a Ferrari or Lamborghini but in a world that is so concerned now about CO2 emissions are they really worth it. The kilometres to the litre economies are above 30km/l.

Yes these cars are fast, and have engines that make most men quake with excitement, but too have one you need in excess of £150000/$225000. Not to mention if you use it as an everyday car a very deep pocket for any repairs and deeper still for fuel cost per year. They aren't practical.

Everyday cars - I drive a Nissan Almera, it has the power to go places and it’s willing to haul ass and also coast on a gentle cruise. Its 5 door, standard 1.5l hatchback and it’s all I need, with a tank of 60litres I can go 400-500 miles, normal miles to litre ratio is around 9/10 in summer and 7/8 in winter due to cold starts.

Then we have the Luxury cars, Range Rover Sports / Vogue and the Porsche Turbo / Carrera 4s are these 2-4 litre cars necessary to drop kids of at school ( ~5miles) and then go to work/ shopping (~20-40 miles) every day. Short answer is no.

There is 1 exception to this rule in my belief; those who require a bigger car with more space are allowed them, i.e. disabled people and workmen.

The worst part of these taller cars, like Range Rovers, is the people who drive them. They have no concept of the rules of the road. Normally are pushy, and are normally women who don't know how to drive them properly. In my opinions there should be a separate driving test for these vehicles.

Again, manufacturing companies are looking at many different ways of producing cars and many (mainly the Japanese companies) have decided to invest in electric car solutions. This is a reduction of approximately 80% in CO2 emissions, per mile or kilometre.

So what do you think??

Should there be more planes in the sky??

Should we have total electric train services??

Should supercars and luxury cars not needed under certain exemptions be illegal??

Should we as consumers be urging companies to bring more efficient technology into our cars, train and planes??