Ministerial Round Table: How can we promote sustainable mobility in our towns?

Monday April 4, 14:00 - 15:30, By invitation only.

Room : Van Dongen

Transportation is an integral part of urban life but also of the decline in the quality thereof. With the degree of development attained today it has a twofold impact:

● on public health: air and noise pollution

● on greenhouse gas emissions and their subsequent effect on global climate changes.

Our means of transportation, mainly based on the passenger vehicle, an undeniable key to freedom of movement and social advancement, also has an increasingly high cost. This is mainly due to the time wasted in traffic congestion and dramatic rise in fuel prices, stemming not only from the growing political instability in major oil-producing countries but also from the increasing demand for oil in the wake of the emergence of new markets (China, India), and perhaps even from the fiscal appetite of certain States.

These observations, added to the eventual and inevitable decline of oil resources, should encourage us more than ever to search for new viable alternatives of sustainable mobility, providing politicians with ample food for thought on:

● Development of less polluting public transport systems

● Car-sharing

● Introduction of measures that financially penalise and therefore discourage personal auto use in city centres - city toll zones.

But such measures, however essential in crowded business districts, are extremely costly and therefore a rather unpopular option all round.

It is for this reason that solutions associated with the implementation of new technologies should also be thoroughly examined:

● Hybrid-electric vehicles which reduce fuel consumption and therefore pollution whilst attaining performance levels similar to the conventional heat thermal-powered vehicle

● Electric buses

● "Zero-emission" electric vehicles for private individuals as well as firms and public institutions

● Innovative solutions for making this type of vehicle available on a self-service basis

● new clean technologies: fuel cells, high-performance batteries, very promising energy sources

These ideas and many more will be broached during the discussion.

Is hydrogen the only long term solution for sustainable mobility?

Monday 4 April, 17:00 – 18:30

Room: Camille Blanc

The “vision” on the contribution of hydrogen and fuel cells for sustainable energy systems in the future is becoming more common around the world.

An increasing number of experts argue that more energy is needed to split water than can ever be retrieved. Some even state that electric vehicles can offer twice the power from the same electrical energy as hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicles.

A spotlight on the matter is needed and questions have to be asked on how much energy is really consumed to produce, package, distribute and transfer hydrogen? Where does the energy come from? How efficient is the distribution? Briefly put, how efficient is the energy used in a hydrogen economy? Answers must be found before large scale investments are made.

Scenarios for electrical transportation systems exist but raise complex questions and lead to equally complex answers.

In addition to the lecture and dialogue sessions on hydrogen and fuel cell drive systems, this round table is provided to generate the necessary discussion on whether the 'Hydrogen Economy' is just a dream or a real pathway to the future. We will discuss the challenges to be faced during the transition towards the hydrogen economy.

Whilst everybody agrees that the hydrogen era is a longterm vision, strong action must be taken in the short and medium term in order to address current environment and energy concerns. Electric and hybrid are the key technologies to be considered.

Leaders from industry, the academic world and high level politicians will participate in this workshop to discuss this with you and identify the best solution for a sustainable future.

Participants (provisionnal)

Jacques SIMONEAU

Président of Capitech

Hydro-Québec Group

Cynthia VERDUGO-PERALTA

Governor’s Appointee

South Coast AQMD

Governing Board

Jared J. BROWN

Adviser of Senator Orrin Hatch, Washington

Reinhold WURSTER

L-B-Systemtechnik

Arnold LAMM

Mercedes Car Group

Senior Manager Fuel Cell and Energy Storage

Eucar

Benoît DE LA BRETECHE

Responsible of the Challenge Bibendum Michelin

Bertrand HEILBRONN

Electricité de France

Pietro MENGA

President of the AVERE

Ulf BOSSEL

European Fuel Cell Forum

Lars SJUNNESSON

President of Sydkraft

BEST PRACTICES IN CITIES: PROGRAMMES AROUND THE WORLD, LESSONS AND PROPOSALS FOR ACTION

Tuesday 5 April, 16:30 – 19:00

Room: Camille Blanc

Traffic is responsible for a significant share of air pollution in our cities today. This causes considerable ill-effects locally, with emissions degrading air quality and threatening public health, and globally with greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels changing our climate.

Furthermore, traffic generates considerable noise, pollution and vibration making our cities a stressful and unpleasant place also harming our cultural heritage.

More and more cities are developing programmes to address these issues.

In addition to the lecture and dialogues sessions entitled Public Policies and Programmes, Introduction and Demonstration, Public Transport and Heavy Duty Vehicles, this workshop is organised on the occasion of EVS 21 to provide you with information on best practices in cities around the world.

American, Asian and European cities that are leaders in the field will present new mobility systems, new urban logistics concepts, results of projects demonstrating the merits of using battery and hybrid electric vehicles in urban frameworks, perceptions by regional and municipal authorities of these new solutions for their transport and environmental policy as well as the impacts on energy use and the need for suitable infrastructure.

This will also be the place to exchange ideas, to learn from others' experiences and to explore innovative solutions.

Round Table Participants :

Akita province, Japan

Beijing, China

New York City, USA

San Francisco, USA

La Rochelle, France

Stockholm, Sweden

Mendrisio, Switzerland

Rome, Italy