In recent years, the transport industry has started on a transformative journey towards sustainability, driven by an urgent need to reduce its substantial carbon footprint. Accounting for nearly 24% of global CO2 emissions from fuel combustion, the sector has become a focal point for environmental reform. Governments, corporations, and consumers are increasingly demanding cleaner, more efficient modes of transportation to mitigate the impact of climate change and improve air quality. So, in this blog, we will discuss the transportation sector’s current implications on the environment and how the transport industry is going green.

Current Implications of Transportation on the Environment

As most vehicles in today’s economy end up being exported, sometimes across continents, there are several points travel vehicles must go through. The first step is sending them to destination countries, and the second step is getting them to dealerships. Once the vehicle is at the dealership, the last leg will be transporting the vehicle to the final owner.

Unfortunately, there is no way around getting these vehicles to their destination continents across the world apart from shipping. Massive ships make their way through ports every single day, transporting vehicles so consumers can buy them.

The constant demand for new vehicles creates this need, not to mention the demand for local transportation as well. For instance, a major automotive logistics company like Kuehne + Nagel, which operates in over 100 countries, coordinates the transport of millions of vehicles annually. Their operations include not only shipping cars across oceans but also managing the complex logistics of delivering these vehicles to dealerships and customers in various regions.

There is no getting around vehicular exports, as most countries rely on importing vehicles for their citizens. However, that doesn’t mean all is a loss of environment. With the advent of electric vehicles, going green is the way forward for transport companies worldwide. But how exactly are they going to get there? We’ll lay that all down in the next section, expanding on how the transport industry is going green in 2024 and beyond.

Also Read: Transportation CO2 Footprint: An Analysis

How The Transport Industry Is Going Green?

1. Alternative Fuel Sources

It’s already happening as we speak. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global electric car stock surpassed 10 million units in 2020, marking a significant increase from just 17,000 a decade earlier. This rapid adoption is propelled by advancements in battery technology, which have drastically improved the range and affordability of electric vehicles (EVs). For instance, the cost of lithium-ion batteries has plummeted by 89% since 2010, making EVs more accessible to the average consumer.

Industry Use Case: FedEx Express

Popular giants like FedEx have already claimed to be working toward their entire fleet being zero-emission. This means that they will replace their entire fleet of vehicles and start working towards using only electric vehicles.

By 2025, FedEx Express will purchase 50% electric vehicles and, by 2030, will convert to only purchasing electric vehicles. The biggest hurdle in the early days of electric vehicles was the implications of long-haul charging; however, faster and better chargers across the country are making it easier to “fuel up” no matter your location.

FedEx is also investing in alternative fuel sources for their aircraft and other vehicular emissions. With aircraft modernization, they have been able to use less fuel since 2012 and save a combined 1.43 billion gallons of jet fuel.

With these innovations in the transport industry, FedEx is paving the way for a greener future. Companies that produce the most carbon emissions are responsible for their actions, and seeing industry giants lead the way is a good start to encouraging other transport companies to go green.

2. Route Optimization

Although artificial intelligence is often used as a buzzword, it’s still helping companies that you wouldn’t expect to optimize their processes, including transport companies. AI can analyze millions of different scenarios at once and output the most optimal route for each scenario.

This means that transporters are going to use less fuel over the long run, which will help in reducing carbon emissions. Route optimizations can help reduce downtime and even help get customers their vehicles faster.

Batching goods together in more intelligent ways can help further reduce the number of vehicles needed to transport parcels, reducing the amount of fuel needed and saving companies millions of dollars over the long run.

Industry Use Case: UPS

UPS has implemented a route optimization system known as ORION (On-Road Integrated Optimization and Navigation). This system uses advanced algorithms to determine the most efficient delivery routes. By avoiding left turns, which are more time-consuming and fuel-inefficient, UPS estimates it saves 10 million gallons of fuel annually. This reduction equates to about 100,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided each year.

3. Electric Mega Ships

The biggest hurdle is electrifying the larger ships that do the bulk of the intercontinental shipping. It still seems like a dream to be able to travel continent to continent fully on solar power; however, with the rapid advancement in battery technology, we are getting closer each year.

That doesn’t mean transport ships can’t start working towards a greener future now. They can start implementing solar panels and using partial electric power instead of relying solely on fossil fuels. While still partially a concept, large boats running on solar are being built as we speak.

Industry Use Case: Yara Birkeland

The Yara Birkeland is the world’s first fully electric and autonomous container ship, set to reduce CO2 emissions by 678 tons annually by replacing 40,000 truck journeys a year. This Norwegian vessel, powered by renewable electricity, represents a significant step forward in green maritime transport. The ship is expected to be operational in 2024, offering a glimpse into the future of sustainable shipping.

4. Adopting Sustainable Practices 

Many transport companies have set ambitious net-zero targets, aiming to offset their carbon emissions by a certain date completely. This involves a combination of reducing emissions and investing in carbon offset projects. Companies are adopting sustainable practices across their operations, from using recycled materials in packaging to reducing waste and improving energy efficiency in their facilities.

Industry Use Case: Maersk

Maersk, the world’s largest container shipping company, has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. They have invested in new technologies, including biofuels made from waste cooking oil, and have ordered vessels capable of running on carbon-neutral methanol. In 2021, Maersk announced the launch of the world’s first carbon-neutral liner vessel by 2023, which will run on e-methanol produced from renewable energy.

Also Read: The Significance Of Green Transport For Achieving Global Climate Targets

Conclusion

The biggest hurdle will be getting transport companies to invest in a brighter future. The early infrastructure is not there to support fully electric transport; however, time is running out to save the planet from the destruction caused by global warming.

As giants like FedEx work towards zero emissions in the next few decades, it’s paramount that other companies involved in transport follow their lead. Without everyone on board with reducing emissions, the future of the planet and the environment is bleak.

Also Read: How Is Sustainable Transportation Accelerating The Shift Towards Decarbonization?