Accelerating innovation in new mobility services: matching sustainable new business models to local potential

Someone sat on a bench next to an electric bike. They're wearing a bicycle helmet and holding a basket of flowers.

There is an urgent need for carbon reduction in the transport sector. This project examines the capability of people in particular places to rapidly reduce transport carbon emissions whilst at the same time trying to spot social vulnerabilities, which might occur during rapid change. E.g. are some people unable to use new low carbon technologies or maybe they might not be able to afford them.

To do this I usually bring together quantitative spatial data calculate indicators or measure to explain what is going on and map the results. Promoters of new mobility services (NMS) such as ride-hailing and Mobility as a Service say they offer a sustainable transport future and a route to decarbonisation.

However, we need to critically assess where and how these services can contribute to carbon reduction, and where there is a risk of creating even greater demand for mobility and either increasing carbon emissions or hindering the rapid reduction that is needed.

Impact

This project was an ESRC fellowship which ran from 2018-2021.  As an example of the output the piece of work below was used as a case study by the CREDS research centre https://www.creds.ac.uk/publications/e-bikes-could-slash-transport-emissions/ 

 

Thanks very much for alerting us to this research. It’s of great interest to us, given that we promote e-bikes for both health and environmental reasons. 

Cycling UK

Publications and outputs

Philips I, Walmsley A, Anable J. 2020. A scoping indicator identifying potential impacts of all-inclusive MaaS taxis on other modes in Manchester. Transport Findings (in press)

Philips I, Anable J, Chatterton T. 2019. A small area estimation of the capability of individuals to replace car travel with walking, cycling and e-bikes and its implications for energy use. ECEEE Summer Study ECEEE Summer study Proceedings , pp. 1097-1104

Pearce M, Macklon G, Dallas M, Philips I. 2019. A spatial microsimulation approach to modelling capacity for active travel in Scotland. STAR Scottish Transport Applications and Research 2019 STAR Conference Proceedings

Brand C, Anable J, Philips I, Morton C. 2019. Transport Energy Air pollution Model TEAM: Methodology Guide. In: Transport Energy Air pollution Model TEAM: Methodology Guide. , pp. 1-120

Published paper: Philips, I., Anable, J., Chatterton, T., 2022. E-bikes and their capability to reduce car CO2 emissions. Transport Policy, 116: 11–23. doi: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2021.11.019Opens in a new tab

Downloads

Elsevier: Most downloaded articlesOpens in a new tab

CREDS briefing: e-bike carbon savings – how much and where?

BBC: Electric bikes ‘could help people return to work’Opens in a new tab

Department for Transport: Call for evidence the Future of Transport: rural strategyOpens in a new tab

The CCC: Committee on Climate Change’s 6th Carbon Budget Report – Transport Sector SummaryOpens in a new tab

HS2: High Speed Rail Group evidence to Department of Transport Transport Decarbonisation report, pdfOpens in a new tab (27 pages, 2.2 MB)

Grantham Institute: Financing climate action with positive social impact: How banking can support a just transition in the UKOpens in a new tab

Grant

ES/S001743/1