Current challenges in environmental transportation research

Kurzfassung

The text is an editorial introduction to a Virtual Special Issue on "Current challenges in environmental transportation research" from an conference stream at the World Conference of Transport Research in Montréal, Canada organised by the Special Interest Group "Transport, Energy and Environment". The main results are: 1. Need for change: The environmental impact of transportation is significant, and there is a pressing need for a shift towards more sustainable modes of transportation. 2. Importance of data: Data collection and analysis are crucial for understanding transportation patterns and developing effective strategies to reduce emissions and improve air quality. 3. Mode shift: Shifting towards more active modes of transportation (e.g., walking, cycling) and public transportation is essential for reducing the environmental impact of transportation. 4. Electric vehicles: Smaller electric vehicles can play a key role in reducing emissions, but their market penetration needs to be accelerated. 5. Optimized infrastructures and charging strategies: Data analysis can help optimize infrastructure development and charging strategies for electric vehicles, reducing investment and operational costs. 6. Policy packages: Achieving emission reduction targets will require complex policy packages, as current and planned policies are insufficient. 7. Interdisciplinary research: Further interdisciplinary scientific research is necessary to provide decision-makers with a solid basis for developing effective transportation transition strategies. The editorial highlights the contributions of seven papers included in the Virtual Special Issue, which cover topics such as: 1. Sustainable pathways for mitigating externalities in long-distance transport 2. Scenarios for road transport demand, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions 3. Air pollution exposure impacts on travel behavior 4. Electric vehicle-specific research (e.g., optimized charging strategies, overhead lines for heavy-duty vehicles). Overall, the editorial emphasizes the urgency of addressing environmental challenges in transportation and the need for a multidisciplinary approach to develop effective solutions.