1. Fundación Francisco Corell
Las Energías Alternativas y el Medio Ambiente. El uso de los Biocombustibles en el Transporte por Carretera
Fundación Francisco Corell
Barcelona, 28 April 2009
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

2. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

3. Evolution of IRU Membership
Members 74 Countries
Created 1948
8 Founder States:
Belgium
Denmark
France
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden UK
Switzerland
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

4. Evolution of IRU Structure
1948
IRU founded in Geneva
1973
IRU Permanent Delegation to the EU established in Brussels
1998
IRU Permanent Delegation to the CIS established in Moscow
2005
IRU Permanent Delegation to the Middle East established in Istanbul
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

5. IRU Priorities 2009 – Overview As per Art. 2 of the IRU Constitution
Sustainable Development
Innovation
Incentives
Infrastructure
Facilitation
Trade
Tourism
Road Transport
These are also the priorities of the IRU Academy
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

6. Sustainable Development
IRU Charter for Sustainable Development (1996)
IRU Initiative “Driving Towards Sustainable Development” (1997)
IRU Guide to Sustainable Development (2000)
IRU Reports on Road Transport Best Industry Practices (2002/4)
Industry as a Partner for Sustainable Development UNEP (2002/6)
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

7. IRU’s 3 “i”s for Sustainable Development
1. innovation – to develop ever more effective “at-source” technical measures & operating practices to reduce environmental impact.
2. incentives – to encourage faster introduction by transport operators of best available technology and practices.
3. infrastructure – without free-flowing traffic, the above measures are useless. Adequate investment in new infrastructure to remove bottlenecks and missing links, plus fullest use of existing infrastructure, are essential.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

8. Road transport is a vital production tool in a global economy
What does it take to have a cup of coffee in a café?
The combined efforts of
29 companies in 18 countries
If to have one cup of coffee at an affordable price, it takes 29 companies in 18 countries, you imagine how much more it would cost if all items came from the country where the end product is consumed?
If we know that it takes 10’000 suppliers, which in turn have their own suppliers, to create an affordable motor car, you can imagine the vital role of road transport in a liberalised economy.
Therefore, to stay in business, we need to see globalisation as an opportunity and not as a threat. To do so, we need to develop together the entrepreneurial spirit currently lacking in Europe.
There is transport between each. Most of it is by road. Road Transport = Production Tool!
Source: IRU
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

9. Road transport tonnage distances in modern economies
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© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009 9

10. Focusing on toxic emissions first
Evolution of Commercial Vehicle Emission Standards in the EU
- 88%
-95%
- 97%
- 98%
Source: Eur Commission 2008
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

11. Evolution of Fuel Consumption 40-tonne truck
: -36%
Massive investments in the latest technology by the road transport operators have significantly increased fuel efficiency as a result fuel consumption between 1970 and 2005 has dropped from 50 litres/100km to 32 litres/100km…. Leading in turn to a direct drop in CO2 emissions.
Source: Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA) e.V., 2004
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

12. Misperception – who really produces CO23%
27%
33%
30%
17%
20%
Power generation
Heating
Other (waste disposal
agriculture, etc)
Private Car, Airline, Ship, Rail
Goods transport by road
While power generation and heating contribute to over 50% of CO2 emissions, these are areas where viable alternate energy sources with low CO2 emissions exist already today.
Man made sources of carbon dioxide come mainly from the burning of various fossil fuels, including diesel fuel.
The use of fossil fuel varies from country to country. However, figures taken from the UNFCCC reporting system for the KYOTO protocol for developed countries show that fossil fuel is mostly used for:
Power generation: 33%
Heating: 20%
Other ( waste disposal, agriculture…): 17%
Private car, airlines, ships, rail…: 27%
Goods transport by road : 3%
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

13. Road transport is 100% dependent on oil - Energy Characteristics of Various Fuels
Weight & volume of fuel tank for same amount of energy
Weight coefficient
Volume coefficient
Petrol / gasoline 1
Diesel Fuel
Propane (C3H3) 8
1.9
Butane (C4H10)
1.4
Hydrogen (H2) - Gas at 200 BAR 25 22
Hydrogen (H2) - Liquid at -253°C 4
5.8
Metal Hydride - Magnesium 5
3.2
Metal Hydride - Vanadium 10
1.7
Metal Hydride - Iron-Titanium 20
Methanol (CH3OH)
2.2
2.1
Ethanol (C2H5OH)
1.62
1.53
Lead Battery 70 12
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

14. Biofuels are not an economically viable solution!
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

15. Biofuels are not CO2 neutral
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

16. Road transport is 100% dependent on oil - Need to diversify the energy market
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

17. Focus on the right issue!
Fossil fuel is not renewable!
Our industry is 100% dependent on oil.
No economically viable alternatives to fossil fuel.
Our duty is to ensure that our children’s children can benefit from black gold through a sustainable energy policy.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

18. 5th Euro-Asia Conference: Almaty
11-12 June 2009!
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

19. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009