• Electrifying motorcycle taxis in Kampala

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Mon Feb 21 21:30:34 2022
    Electrifying motorcycle taxis in Kampala, Uganda, shows air pollution
    benefits

    Date:
    February 21, 2022
    Source:
    University of Michigan
    Summary:
    In a new study, researchers set out to understand the air pollutant
    emissions impacts of electrifying motorcycle taxis in Kampala,
    Uganda.



    FULL STORY ==========================================================================
    In a new University of Michigan study, researchers set out to understand
    the air pollutant emissions impacts of electrifying motorcycle taxis in Kampala, Uganda.


    ==========================================================================
    The findings indicate that electrified motorcycles can reduce emissions
    of global and some local air pollutants, yielding global and potentially
    local sustainability benefits.

    Air pollutants harm the well-being of individuals and the climate. Those
    living in low and middle-income countries, or LMICs, in particular,
    are dealing with poor air quality due to rapid urbanization.

    There are millions of motorcycles across low- and middle-income countries,
    but little research has been done on the consequences of electrifying
    them. A group of researchers led by Michael Craig, an assistant professor
    in energy systems at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability,
    set out to fill this gap.

    Their study is published in the journalTransportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment.

    "The transportation sector is a major emitter of global and local
    pollutants in LMICs, and motorcycles make up a large part of the transport sector in those countries," Craig said.



    ========================================================================== "Electrification is a key decarbonization strategy for transport, but
    little research has considered how electrifying motorcycles in LMICs would yield local or global sustainability benefits. To understand how we can
    achieve those benefits, we teamed up with Zembo (electric motorcycle taxi company) to fill that gap." In Kampala, Uganda, hundreds of thousands
    of motorcycles are on the roads, with tens of thousands acting as taxis,
    or "boda bodas." These motorcycles contribute to dangerous air pollution
    levels that frequently exceed levels deemed safe for humans by the World
    Health Organization.

    In response to growing concerns about air pollution, there has been a
    push in sub-Saharan African cities to adopt electric motorcycles, with
    Rwanda even considering banning gasoline motorcycles.

    In this study, U-M researchers combined real-world trip and chargi ng data
    from motorcycle taxis in Kampala with computational models of the Ugandan
    power system. Through this empirically driven approach, the researchers quantified emissions from conventional and electric motorcycle taxis,
    then compared the two to quantify electrification benefits.



    ==========================================================================
    The findings show that replacing traditional gas-powered motorcycles
    with electric ones reduces some air pollutant emissions and increases
    others due to the fuels used to generate power in Uganda.

    Still, electrification might achieve health benefits by moving emissions
    away from population centers. While the emissions impacts will vary
    with hydropower generation throughout the year, the study found that electrifying motorcycle taxis reduced annual emissions of carbon dioxide
    by 36%, carbon monoxide by 90%, nitrogen oxide by 58% and hydrocarbon
    by 99%.

    Conversely, electrification increased annual emissions of sulfur oxide emissions by 870%, particulate matter 10 (PM10) by 109%, and particulate
    matter 2.5 (PM2.5) by 97%.

    "LMICs have to be part of the solution in addressing climate change,"
    Craig said. "Our research indicates electrifying motorcycle taxis in
    Uganda can yield global climate benefits while also possibly producing
    local air quality benefits. Better understanding of global and local
    benefits associated with transport electrification in Kampala and other
    LMICs is crucial to guide investments." The study's other authors
    include: Max Vanatta of the College of Engineering and Center for
    Sustainable Systems; Bhavesh Rathod of the U-M School for Environment
    and Sustainability; Jacob Calzavara of the School for Environment and Sustainability, Ross School of Business, Erb Institute and Center for Sustainable Systems; Herek Clack and Teanna Sims of the U-M College
    of Engineering; Pamela Jagger of the School for Environment and
    Sustainability.

    E'tienne Saint-Sernin, co-founder of Zembo Electric Motorcycles; and
    Thomas Courtright, an independent researcher; The work was made possible
    by a Graham Catalyst Grant.

    ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Michigan. Note:
    Content may be edited for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. Max Vanatta, Bhavesh Rathod, Jacob Calzavara, Thomas Courtright,
    Teanna
    Sims, E'tienne Saint-Sernin, Herek Clack, Pamela Jagger, Michael
    Craig.

    Emissions impacts of electrifying motorcycle taxis in Kampala,
    Uganda.

    Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 2022;
    104: 103193 DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2022.103193 ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220221102341.htm

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