Possible solutions for a transport system compliant with the energy supply and the environment: measurable analyses

The development of the circulating fleet, infrastructures and personal mobility, which have significantly marked the second half of the last century in Europe, show today some conditioning: saturation of the land, limitedness of the energy resource, release within the environment of gases and combustible materials, maintenance of the existing infrastructures, safety, relationships among people. The proposed presentation gathers and synthesizes, at first, a general framing on the role and impact of the transport systems in the general energy consumption and the consequent emissions. These elements are essential for a clearer understanding of where and how much energy efficiency can impact the different transport modes and provide the ground for some general considerations on the energy demand in the transport systems. A perspective on consequent engines and motor vehicles is provided thereafter. Secondly, the presentation proposes some solutions, motivated and based on the WTW (well-to-wheel) analysis and data, that can be prospected in the present changing economy, including some main proposals concerning energy production in urban contexts, as an alternative to oil import, and the consequent most proper propulsion or traction for motor vehicles. A reference is made also to the Directive 2009/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles and related alternative fuels.