Futures Vehicles and Fuels report “On the Road in 2035″

The AGS Energy Flagship team at MIT released a synthesis report of research on future vehicles and fuels. “On the road in 2035: reducing transportation’s petroleum consumption and GHG emissions” first assesses the performance, cost, and life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of individual new vehicle and fuel technologies. The authors then evaluate the total impact of on-the-road fleets, and compare the potential of these technologies.

The report concludes that a 30-50% reduction in fuel consumption is feasible over the next 30 years through a combination of improved gasoline and diesel engines and transmissions, gasoline hybrids, and reductions in vehicle weight and drag – with costs in the range of US$1 500-4 500 per vehicle. Over the long term, plug-in hybrids and later still, hydrogen fuel cells may enter the fleet in numbers sufficient to have a significant impact on fuel use and emissions. In contrast, alternative fuels that could replace petroleum fuels in the near-term (such as current biofuels) are unlikely to change GHG emissions significantly.

Progress must therefore come from a comprehensive, coordinated effort to develop and market more efficient vehicles and benign fuels, and to find more sustainable ways to satisfy transportation demands.

Abstract and link to download the report

Climate Change and Energy Pathways for the Mediterranean (2008) Workshop Proceedings, Cyprus Ernest J. Monitz ISBN: 978-1-4020-4858-6 (hardcover)

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More than 50 percent of the world population lives in cities. The majority of the population in cities lacks fundamental living qualities including acceptable housing and clean water. This is the main challenge for architecture and the construction industry for the future.  The initiative seminar turns towards researchers and students from various disciplines and industrial and community players from various sectors. With the help of initiated insights from international guests with various backgrounds and perspectives we look forward to active and engaged participation in an important debate which will be part of our work on urban futures. The goal of the seminar is to frame a platform for research within a number of prioritized areas and define strategies for collaboration within Samhällsbyggnadsnoden – a meeting place for learning, research, innovation and debate.

Programme for Day 1:
Moderator: Alexandra Pascalidou

• Welcome, by Hans Lindgren and Carl-Eric Hagentoft, John Holmberg, vice president – Chalmers Initiative
• Cities in climate change , Marco Keiner, ETH
• Design and concepts for habitability in extreme environments, particularly on Moon and Mars, Larry Toups, NASA
• Sustainable development – the importance of city planning, architecture and construction, Ulla-Britt Fräjdin-Hellqvist, board member in public and private companies (Castellum, Kongsberg Automative, Tällberg advisors)
• Sustainable business: how busenesses are reacting to the requests of a sustainable agenda – a global perspective, Roger Flanagan, University of Reading
• Urban futures for the next generation – sixth grade student competition on urban futures, produced by Bengt Nilsson & Dan Jåma, shows how children have been working on the theme Future cities
• Summary, Alexandra Pascalidou

Welcome, by Hans Lindgren and Carl-Eric Hagentoft,
John Holmberg, vice president – Chalmers Initiative

“Cities in climate change”, by Marco Keiner

“Design and concepts for habitability in extreme environments,
particularly on Moon and Mars”, by Larry Toups

“Sustainable development – the importance of city planning,
architecture and construction” by Ulla-Britt Fräjdin-Hellqvist

“Sustainable business: how businesses are reacting to the
requests of a sustainable agenda – a global perspective”, by Roger Flanagan

“My view on sustainability” by Gert Windgårdh

“Urban Futures for the next generation”,
6th grade student competition,
Five Views on Urban Futures 2008, AGS Chalmers

Summary, by Alexandra Pascalidou

Program Day 2 (presentations in Swedish):
Moderator: Annika von Schéele, Boverket and Chalmers

• Uthållig tillväxt i Göteborgsregionen – om samspel, mål och strategier, Bo Aronsson, Göteborgs Region
• Om bilar och framtidens storstäder, Anders Källström, Västsvenska Handelskammaren
• Ett hållbart boende – Framtidens melodi, Harald Pleijel, Familjebostäder & Framtiden
• En revolution med bara vinnare, Anders Kyrkander, Passivhuscentrum
• Homes of tomorrow, Greg Morrison, Chalmers
• Panel discussion with speakers and invited guests, Karin Markides Chalmers, Mats Lundqvist CES, Agneta Kores Familjebostäder et al
• Closing, Karin Markides, Chalmers

Uthållig tillväxt i Göteborgsregionen – om samspel, mål och strategier, Bo Aronsson

Om bilar och framtidens storstäder, Anders Källström

9-10 April 2008, Göteborg, Sweden
Evolution of Sustainable Human Settlements

An initiative seminar that focused on the exciting interconnections between scientific disciplines, subject areas and the surrounding world.

Link to webcasts
Contact person: Dr. Sebastien Rauch

Moving Millions (2007) Transport Strategies for Sustainable Development in Megacities Fred Moavenzadeh, M.J. Markow ISBN: 978-1-4020-6701-3 (hardcover)

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An Energy Analysis of Household Consumption (2007) Changing Patterns of Direct and Indirect Use in India Shonali Pachauri ISBN: 978-1-4020-4031-7 (hardcover)

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Highway and Urban Environment (2007) Proceedings of the 8th Highway and Urban Environment Symposium Greg Morrison and Sebastien Rauch (editors) ISBN: 978-1-4020-6009-0 (hardcover)

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Mapping Sustainability (2007) Knowledge e-Networking and the Value Chain Nazli Choucri, Dinsha Mistree, Wallace R. Baker, Farnaz Haghseta, Carlos I. Ortiz, Toufic Mezher (editors) ISBN: 978-1-4020-5862-2 (hardcover)

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Sustainable Water Quality Management Policy (2007) The Role of Trading: The US Experience Chanathip Pharino ISBN: 978-1-4020-5862-2 (hardcover)

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