Examining Hydrocarbon Fuels for Transport in a Decarbonised World

With rising average ambient temperatures, including the gradual melting of the icecaps, the occurrence of global warming is demonstrable.It is currently being addressed in the UK by energy conservation and decarbonisation, part of which is the use of renewables, nuclear generation facilities, and low/ zero carbon fuels such as hydrogen.A comparison of energy use between trains and road vehicles is made.Decarbonisation of trains is comparatively straightforward and is progressing in the UK albeit slowly with the use of electric trains on high density and/ or high speed routes.Use of high speed routes permits reduction of aircraft use on short flights.For minor train routes hydrogen as a fuel is practicable.The use of EV is better for small road vehicles with hybrids for vans and light trucks being suggested.The use of diesel fuels for HGV is recommended and the justification for this is outlined.Also presented for the UK, is the estimated emissions from combustion engines.These have been successfully reduced to the point that brake and tyre emissions have become a significant fraction of reported particulate emissions' values.