pluginaustin

Air Support

The coalition and the growing consensus behind plug-in hybrids and electric fuels in general continues to grow.

Here, a consultant for the aviation industry recommends that the aviation industry put pressure on the automobile industry to move towards plug-ins and all-electrics.

Aviation urged to press fuel claim
Oct 12, 2005

The air transport industry must put pressure on automotive manufacturers to introduce fuel-efficient road vehicles to ensure security of fuel supply for air transport, says a report by consultancy Meridian International Research.

While the air transport industry is the most sensitive to rising oil prices, technology to allow it to drastically reduce fossil fuel consumption is not yet developed. However, fuel-efficient motor vehicle technologies are much more advanced, and in some cases are already being introduced.

“The air transport industry cannot easily reduce oil consumption – except by grounding aircraft. Air transport is too important to the functioning of the world to allow that,” says William Tahil, research director at Meridian, an independent strategy research and technology consultancy based in France.

The introduction of plug-in hybrid and battery-powered electric road vehicles would take the pressure off fossil-fuel supplies and allow time for biojet fuel to become a feasible option to replace part of the 230 billion litres of jet fuel that are burned worldwide each year, the report says.

Airlines need to take a holistic approach, and industry bodies like the International Air Transport Association should put pressure on motor manufacturing associations and manufacturers themselves to cut fuel consumption, according to Tahil: “Our economic future depends on oil prices coming down to reasonable levels – the air transport sector is vital to the smooth functioning of global industry.”

The coalition grows.

Meanwhile, the petition drive in Austin Texas is 60% towards its goal.

And the National Campaign is beginning to take shape.

Stay plugged in.

posted by AE @ 1:22 AM