Countless government entities and corporations have signed pledges to significantly reduce their carbon emissions, or even be net-zero, on various timelines. Dozens of nations have already indicated some level of commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Some have already reached either carbon neutrality or are even carbon-negative, sequestering more greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs) than they emit. These countries, like Suriname or Bhutan, are rich in natural resources and alternative energies. For much of the developed or developing world, achieving this can seem like a herculean task but it does not have to be.
What is first needed to cut our emissions and prevent global temperature rise of two degrees Celsius – as recommended by the 2015 Paris Agreement – is widespread acknowledgement that the transportation sector is the largest source of GHGEs in most western economies and constitutes a significant share of the carbon portfolio elsewhere. In the United States, for example, approximately two-thirds of all transportation emissions come from private vehicles according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Further, emissions are only part of the problem. Roads and surface parking can occupy as much as 30 percent of a city’s area, causing heat islands. Freeways and overbuilt roads have a history of being used to displace or segregate minority communities. And noise pollution and particulates in the air are a detriment to public health.
Once there is acknowledgement that this is the source of various environmental issues, governments can begin addressing the problem in several ways. The first is energy transition. The EPA even lists this as its first example for reducing GHGEs. The best place to start with the energy transition is with public transit - if not to lead by example, to also commit regions to bolstering and future-proofing their energy grids for ever-increasing demands. In many regions, mass transit networks are the largest consumers of electricity, and full conversion to alternative fuels will require more capacity on power grids than currently exist – notwithstanding any significant leaps in battery technology. As such, the first step governments and energy companies must take is to increase capacity – a no-regret investment.
With Keolis, there are subject matter experts who can collect data on operations, maintenance, and technical knowledge to support modeling and costing for business development
The time is now for states, county governments, cities, and agencies to get serious about converting their current rolling stock to low or no-emission technology. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has appropriated money to assist with the energy transition. There is more than $10 billion available for projects like low emissions vehicles, buses and bus facilities, charging and fueling infrastructure, and RISE grants that are specifically targeted to “increase use of lower-carbon travel modes such as transit…[and] incorporate electrification or zero emission vehicle infrastructure.”
But where do agencies start? Should they convert diesel buses to battery-electric, or compressed natural gas (CNG)? Should commuter rail systems purchase electric multiple units, or hydrogen fuel cells? What about biofuels? Some of these technologies can raise local concerns about fuel stability or may not be economically viable at a small scale. Thankfully, while some may be relatively new – none of these fuel types are untested. In fact, across the world Keolis operates one of the most diverse portfolios of both modes (autonomous metro, buses, bike shares, etc.) and fuel types (hydrogen, battery-electric, electric, and so on).
There is momentum building for these alternatives and government investments help to bridge the financial gap that agencies would otherwise face if they waited for the market to organically scale-up these technologies. And as the impacts of climate change continue to wreak havoc, there is no time to wait. Once more agencies do begin the energy transition in earnest, costs will come down further. Still, there are unknowns for implementing large-scale energy conversion, such as supply vendors, and how to share best-practices for capital investments, training, lifecycle management, etc. Thankfully, Keolis can be that connective tissue between the 1,000-plus urban public transit systems that exist in the U.S. said another way: nobody needs to undertake this alone. With Keolis, there are subject matter experts who can collect data on operations, maintenance, and technical knowledge to support modeling and costing for business development. Since Keolis is a maintenance and operations contractor, this information is much more easily transferrable to those who will build and operate these newer, cleaner, and more sustainable modes. Otherwise, agencies may be stuck spending precious capital dollars on consulting firms that may be disincentivized to complete jobs quickly, or that easily allow scope creep to appease various competing stakeholders.
The groundwork laid by Keolis, through its subsidiaries across the globe, and those here in North America, enables partner agencies to access practical experience as a daily operator with a full understanding of many paths to successful energy transition. Agencies can implement adapted energy transformation solutions without being pressured to adopt a particular energy source – knowing that the future will not be that of a single type of renewable, but more likely of different energy mixes. Like in finance, a diversified energy portfolio helps to mitigate any risks or market volatility.
The urgency of beginning the work to adopt sustainable energy, right now, cannot be overstated. It is estimated that the public health savings of a clean bus is more than $600,000 per bus lifecycle in reduced instances of respiratory illness. We also know that quieter and cleaner transit solutions help to attract and grow ridership. This is a virtuous cycle of fewer cars on our roadways and more people moving on clean technology.
