ITS Monday: Edition 5, 2023

Melbourne’s CBD is dead. But what’s emerging might be even better

“It’s no longer a CBD, instead we could have a CED (central entertainment district) and CLD (central living district).” Cities across the world were dealt a large dose of change since the pandemic began in early 2020. How is the CBD faring where you are?

Related iMOVE content: Working From Home

Analysis: E-bike subsidies are more cost-effective than EV subsidies

“But researchers have found that e-bikes can displace gasoline miles quite effectively, too. When a household buys an e-bike, their driving (as measured by vehicle miles traveled, or VMT) decreases by more than a third.”

SEQ mayors get Canadian blueprint for Olympic transport

“Vancouver’s mayors have briefed their south-east Queensland counterparts on how the Canadian city plans to double its bus services, add extra train lines and bikeways over a decade, in a blueprint for how Brisbane can prepare for the 2032 Olympics.”

Crucial court battle to set road tax for electric cars

The first (?) battle for how Australian road infrastructure is funded in a future of low-emission vehicles is being fought in the nation’s High Court. “If the states – led by Victoria – win the battle, drivers can expect a variety of charges for electric and hybrid cars in coming years. But if Kath Davies and Chris Vanderstock make their case, the federal government will decide how drivers of next-generation vehicles pay to fund roads.”

Related iMOVE project: Electric vehicles: Supporting uptake, investigating smart charging

Queensland reveals plans to power electric car trend

“Electric vehicle drivers will be able to charge up in more places within months, after the Queensland government revealed a deal with Ampol to turn service stations into EV hubs.”

Electric utes can now power the weekend – and the work week

Penned by Swinburne University of Technology’s Hussein Dia, and is a sensible retort to what was an absurd fear campaign in the Federal election a few years ago.

Why a shift to basing vehicle registration fees on emissions matters for Australia

Speaking of Hussein Dia, he’s been busy writing articles lately, with this one appearing in The Conversation. “An emissions-based registration fee is a sensible policy worth adopting Australia-wide. It’s already in place in many other nations that have much higher uptakes of electric vehicles.”

Volvo gets green light to trial heavy-duty battery electric trucks

Volvo’s heavy-duty electric trucks are about to begin trials in Queensland.

Related iMOVE interview: Tim Camilleri: Prime mover in new truck tech

Two new zero emission heavy vehicle ADRs proposed

“The Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) says the federal government has released two proposed Australian Design Rules (ADRs) for consultation relating to the safety of electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, including buses.”

Cities should not just build green transport but actively dismantle car infrastructure

Written by Phineas Harper director of Open City, a charity dedicated to making architecture and neighbourhoods more open, accessible and equitable. Written from a London standpoint, but his arguments are relevant to other locales.

Voice of the people to help decide on transport future

New Zealand is looking ahead, and will run a “… deliberative workshop, made up of people roped in much like a jury, aiming to establish how transport in New Zealand should be funded in the future.

Consortium pushes for hydrogen-powered aircraft in NZ

“The partners are international aerospace leader Airbus, global green energy company Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), Air New Zealand, next generation energy company Hiringa Energy, liquid hydrogen solution pioneers Fabrum and Christchurch Airport.”

Related iMOVE project: Experiments on consumer preferences for sustainable airlines

TfL data shows 20mph speed limits improve road safety in London

“According to the new data, TfL’s 20mph speed limit on key London roads has led to a 25% reduction in collisions and serious injuries, supporting its Vision Zero goal to eliminate death and serious injury on the city’s transport network.”