New fuel efficient modes of public transport may do little to alleviate the country’s dependence on liquid fuels because the preferred mode of transport in South Africa is still private vehicles.
But the minibus taxi industry already represents a highly fuel-efficient form of commuting.
“A lot of people are using poorer forms of transport like the minibus taxi, which certainly contributes to fuel efficiency and is preferable from a fuel and carbon perspective,” said Deputy Minister of Transport Jeremy Cronin.
Kadri Kevin Nassiep, chief executive of the Central Energy Fund (CEF) said it makes “economic sense” for the taxi industry to consider how to become less dependent on liquid fuels. “They are more vulnerable to increasing fuel prices.”
Nassiep said a CEF pilot project, in conjunction with Gauteng province, which looks at hybrid fuel use in buses, could show the taxi industry what can be achieved with alternative energy sources.
“A 30% fuel saving could go a long way and it could ensure the sustainability of the taxi industry,” he said.
Richard Worthington, climate change programme manager for WWF South Africa, said: “Any collective transport is more efficient than private vehicle use, so the minibus taxi industry could certainly claim some efficiency benefit.”
Yet, according to Worthington, buses are more efficient.
“The condition of those vehicles, particularly the engine, also affects efficiency. Smokey exhausts indicate less than optimal performance.” Rea Vaya and the Gautrain both said their mode of transport is highly energy efficient.
City of Johannesburg deputy director of communications Nthatisi Modingoane said that Rea Vaya had considered a number of more environmentally friendly low-emission fuel options.
“Cognisance was also taken that Metrobus is currently in the process of testing both a natural gas/diesel hybrid and bioethanol powered bus,” Modingoane said.
“The final decision was to procure Euro four specification engined buses with particle filters to further reduce harmful emissions.
“These buses use low-sulphur diesel, 50 parts per million and cannot run on normal diesel. Rea Vaya is, in general, a very fuel-efficient design.” Still, this will not do much to alleviate South Africa’s dependence on liquid fuels.
“Electricity and diesel hybrid vehicles have, in our view, very high potential in the not too distantfuture,” said Modingoane. “The current dependence on fossil fuels will however be with us for some time to come.”
“Environmental sustainability was indeed a key consideration both in the planning and engineering of the Gautrain system,” Bombela Concession Company spokesperson Kelebogile Machaka said.
“Conceptually speaking, commuting by train is by far the most environmentally friendly mass transit system available. Carbon emissions are about half of those produced by equivalent private car usage,” she said.
The trains are electrically powered with no reliance on liquid fuels at all and the feed is derived from two different Eskom sub-stations with Crude warning for policymakers built-in redundancy.
“Rail transportation is without a doubt the most energy and time-efficient way to transport high volumes of commuters as well as goods,” Machaka said.
“The only greener options currently available are to walk or use your bike.”
The Gautrain is operating at only four stations and six others will be opened for use next year. Its capacity is 100 000 users. “The amount of riders on the Gautrain has surpassed our expectations,” Machaka said, negating the perception that the train is not being used by many commuters.
The need to jack up the public transport system is something the department of transport has recognised. “We need to look at removing Rail transportation is described as the most energy and time-efficient way to transport high volumes of commuters and goods.
“The challenge is how to diminish this. Yet more and more people are travelling to work in private cars.”
The built environment in South Africa is very problematic, said Cronin, who describes it as a remaining “legacy of apartheid”.
“People are travelling further distances,” he said.
RDP housing is being built in peripheral and dormant townships, where land is cheapest.
“The long-term legacy of this is further distances to travel and large transport issues.”
Since more than three-quarters of the country’s oil is consumed by the transport sector, this is where the major conservation initiatives should take place.
Supplement to the Mail & Guardian September 3 to 9 2010