ITS Monday: Edition 23, 2021

Hydrogen coaches on track for Aussie mining use

In what is the first of a few stories involving things power and fuel, last week in ITS Monday we included a story on Hyson hydrogen-powered buses in use in Western Australia for Fortescue Mining. One of the buses recently completed a 15,000 kilometre durability test. ‘Our coaches can handle the rugged terrain, and hydrogen technology can serve as a viable alternative to traditional commercial mobility in even the toughest parts of the globe,’ said the Hyzon CEO.

Victorian government commits $14 million to battery facility, regional hydrogen hub

Staying with hydrogen, but moving east to Victoria, that state’s government has committed $14 million to a battery facility and a regional hydrogen hub, located on two campuses of Deakin University, at Warrnambool and Burwood. ‘Hydrogen lends itself very well to that long distance travel and the local industry in the south-west of Victoria — dairy, forestry and manufacturing in that area.’

London launches England’s first hydrogen bus fleet

London is also getting in on a little hydrogen bus action. Twenty double-decker, fuel cell vehicles will run on the number 7 route between East Acton and Oxford Circus as of last week. ‘The hydrogen for the buses is produced at Air Liquide’s plant in Runcorn, harnessing waste hydrogen as a by-product from an industrial chlor-alkali plant. Oxford-based Ryze Hydrogen is responsible for transporting the fuel to the fuelling station. From 2023, the Mayoral Office further expects hydrogen to be even greener as it will be produced by electrolysis powered by a direct connection to an offshore windfarm.’

Positively charged – Transdev Project Aurora

Tales from Transdev’s project to acquire data on what worked, and what did not, in a test of electric buses in Melbourne, including looking at ‘chassis and body choice, charging infrastructure maximisation and implementation, battery performance and, in general, safe and timely passenger transportation.’

Cities are finding a good spot to rethink parking minimums

This story has a US bent, but as is often the case it’s an issue in cities all over the world. The opening paragraph in this clearly stakes out the case against the current parking situation:

‘Most cities in America are built for cars, not people. The country’s post-war boom saw highways, parking lots, and driveways conquer the urban landscape. Our steel chariots are now entitled to more public space than we are. Nowhere is that more apparent than the proliferation of parking minimums for buildings. These regulations were meant to reduce traffic but have led to the creation of 2 billion parking spots in a country with only 250 million cars which only helps to increase the use of cars as the primary means of transportation. Overbuilt, activists and city planners from coast to coast are ending parking minimums to reclaim our cities from the new public enemy number one.’

Auckland’s 10-year transport plan passes, will cut carbon emissions by 1 per cent

Auckland has signed on he dotted line for what is described as a controversial 10-year transport plan.