Manawatu Green Transport Pilot

Green Transport Pilot

A call to Government to jump-start sustainability in the transport sector

Draft

Introduction

Manawatu is a junction of significance for New Zealand's national transportation network. State Highways 56 and 5 meet State Highway 3 and State Highway 1 passes through the region. The North Island Main Trunk railway is met by the Gisborne - Palmerston North Line connecting Woodville and Hawkes Bay with the Wairarapa line.

Consequently the region has emerged as a service centre in the lower half of the North Island. Leading edge national distribution and logistics businesses supporting the rural sector and nationwide wholesale and retail operations have significant investments in Manawatu. Many national and a few international businesses are domiciled in Manawatu. Tertiary education, health, research, central government and the defence sectors contribute to the regional and national economy and place a further demand on the transport network. With agriculture underpinning the region's economy a commitment to working with nature is reflected in the region's green character, branding and aspirations. Manawatu strives to sustainably balance the needs of its people with economic development and sustainability.

Our Tararua and Ruahine ranges funnel wind at average speeds of 10 metres per second with recorded capability of producing windmill electricity equivalent to 4000 hours at maximum output per annum. Our wind farms currently produce enough energy to power all homes in Manawatu. Small hydro electric projects and electricity generated from landfill methane augment the region's generation of renewable energy, and there is potential to harvest more energy from renewable sources.

Small hydro electric projects and energy harvesting from landfills and production of bio methane augment our generation of sustainable energy. Innovative entrepreneurs have established methods of utilising used edible oil as energy for transportation, while others have patented methods of recycling dead computer and cell phone batteries for use in transport and other applications. A local firm builds batteries utilising cells supplied by a US firm has demonstrated local assembly of high performance lithium ion titanate batteries.

History

Palmerston North was first of a number of New Zealand local bodies to adopt battery electric trucks for rubbish removal. This was in 1925! The Rongotea Co-op Dairy Company Ltd., had been operating a fleet of 18 battery electric vehicles beginning in 1918. Experience and knowledge gleaned from them influenced the Borough Council to place an initial order for two electric rubbish vans with A R Harris & Co of Christchurch. Factored into the operating cost calculations was the fact that the Council generated its own electricity. Heat produced from the Destructor (a brand of incinerator) generated electricity which was used to charge the rubbish trucks. Thrifty Councillors saw the wisdom of a closed energy loop. Councillors again were to exercise incisive judgement almost half a century later.

Early battery operated vehicles, had limited range but so did petrol vehicles. Growth of petrol station networks which helped extend range slowly edged out battery operated electric vehicles.

Palmerston North was the first city in the world to have a fleet of buses all powered by natural gas. 22 buses is not exactly a big fleet. However being the first all natural gas fleet in the world would be considered by many to represent an excellent achievement for a region that is home to less than 200,000 people. In the words of then Bus Manager John Galbraith "We put our money where our mouth was. We said that it would work - and it did."

It all began on October 17, 1973 says Roy Bodell, Division Engineer of the Palmerston North Council at the time. Oil prices began to soar and operational budgets were beginning to take a hit from price increases. The Council decided to embark on a programme to convert its vehicles to domestically produced natural gas. A Pilot was commenced. After successful trials over 300 vehicles comprising the Council's fleet were converted in its very own workshops. Mayor Brian Elwood's Jaguar was converted as well. As Lady Dawn remarked recently "the only effect on our family was to reduce the amount of luggage we could carry when we went away for the holidays, which was probably just as well." We did save money on fuel and maintenance adds Sir Brian.

Natural gas sourced from the town supply was compressed before filling into specially fabricated tanks that were fitted into the vehicles. With a twinkle Roy adds "of course the gas was taxed at the domestic fuel rate", and the Gas Company was Council owned! In hindsight emission reduction was a bonus that few appreciated at the time. Government supported this initiative by permitting the cross-use of domestic fuel for transport. Bill Birch, then Minister of Science and Technology (seen above with John Galbraith and Mayor Brian Elwood) provided much support.

As memories of 1973 faded and changes overtook the Council, the Gas Bus fleet was sold to Hamilton. Fuel prices dropped and very soon large scale use of gas powered vehicles became a thing of the past. By 1992 the Council fleet was fully back in the ranks of tail pipe emitters!

In recent years a number of local businesses, in conjunction with Massey University have invested in developing capability in electric traction technologies, including advanced batteries and control systems with the ability to support renewed region wide adoption of clean, emission free technologies promoting strategic gearing of the "local energy loop". Knowledge and capability to retrofit gas systems is available locally. Gas is available from our landfill and from bio-gas digesters. Recycling of spent computer and cell phone batteries using locally patented technologies and nano technology based energy storage systems are available in Manawatu.

The case for a Green Transport Pilot in Manawatu

Manawatu has the history, regional branding and aspiration of its people to embrace the greening of our transport fleet. Councils have supported green initiatives and have an excellent track record in developing sustainable energy programmes.

Transport has been recognised as a key contributor to overall pollution. The rush for adoption of low/zero carbon transport systems is not only envisioned to help us roll back overall emissions to 1990 levels, but also improve energy security in an increasingly uncertain outlook for petroleum based energy. The days of $25 for a barrel of crude oil are perhaps gone for ever.

Millions of dollars, euros and pounds are being poured into sustainable transport technologies with funds being provided on a hitherto unprecedented scale in continental Europe, America, Britain and Australia. New Zealand has a made a start with Road User Tax waiver for small electric vehicles. We need to do more than pay lip service.

The 2009 Government Policy Statement for Road Transport Funding does not propose any concrete measures to support New Zealand's national emission targets. The annual cost of New Zealand's failure to comply with commitments to roll back our emissions to 1990 levels has been estimated at between $350 and $800 million per year depending on the price of carbon credits. It would well be worth our while to look to jump start greening of the transport sector as a way of avoiding some of these potential dollar outflows. Establishing a baseline and monitoring the Pilot region's progress in reducing emissions will certainly develop a best practice and benchmarking expertise that can rapidly be rolled out across the country.

Even a cursory look at the figures reveal the importance of the region for both goods and passenger transport. The region therefore could help usher in new technologies on a medium scale preceding nation wide uptake.

A comparison of commercial heavy vehicle registered

	Trucks	Buses/Coaches	Haulage tractors	Population '000
Auckland	111,260	4,540	2,845	1,300
Wellington Region	28,036	1,600	502	364
Horizons Region	37,670	772	2,488	222
NZ Total	434,938	18,954	28,993	4,028

Source LTSA Motor Vehicle Registrations - 2008. Table 36

Population data from Census 2006 tables.

Call to Action

From Councils

a) Make a minuted resolution from a Council meeting confirming Council's commitment to a Manawatu Green Transport Pilot.

b) Commit to a full and open community consultation and ownership of the Manawatu Green Transport Pilot.

c) Provide renewable locally generated energy for local transport together with appropriate charging infrastructure.

d) Promote policies, regulations and incentives to ensure utilisation of locally produced energy. This includes conversion of Council owned heavy transport vehicles to low / zero emission technologies.

e) Commit that all new heavy vehicle purchases will be low / zero emission vehicles. Assess the feasibility of conversion of Council owned heavy vehicles to using renewable energy. e.g. Rubbish collection vehicles.

f) Encourage Council's contractors through a judiciously applied stimulus package to adopt low emission transport for their heavy vehicles in used in urban operations.

g) Commit resources to encourage uptake of sustainable transport by community.

From Community organisations

a) Publicise objectives of the Green Transport Pilot to stakeholders

b) Assist in encouraging modal shift to Public and Active transport options.

c) Encourage the shift to low / zero tailpipe emission technologies for all vehicles.

From National Government

a) Fund feasibility studies for reduction of locally owned and operated heavy transport emissions by 5% per annum.

b) Funding to identify and benchmark emerging best practice for nationwide adoption

c) Create a fund to subsidise adoption of low / zero emission transport in the Pilot Programme.

d) Fund deployment of re-charging infrastructure in Manawatu to support the Programme.

e) Develop strategies for improving utilisation of the region's rail network.

f) Fund a strategy to improve productivity and utilisation of public transport.

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Pictures and research information courtesy Ian Matheson City Archives, Palmerston North, unless otherwise attributed.

"MG" Gopalan,

Project Manager

Manawatu Tram Trust.

v 1.3 September 30, 2009

For comments or clarifications kindly contact mg@tramtrust.org.nz