Integrated Modelling of the Urban Development, Mobility and Air Pollution Analysis in the Brussels Capital Region: Policy Measures Based on Environmentally Friendly Vehicle Technologies

摘要

The general objective of the described project is to define and compare several transport policies through the use of a simulation tool, aiming to assess the environmental and energetical effect of traffic and focusing on the introduction of alternative vehicles, energy sources and traffic policies. The introduction of different traffic and mobility policies is not easy to assess since there is an interaction between traffic modes, vehicles types, traffic emissions, traffic routes, etc. and all policies managing their deployment. The research project integrates transport aspects with energy and environmental aspects. The various simulations performed in the framework of this project have allowed to assess the potential impact of the introduction of zero-emission vehicles within the Brussels Capital Region (B.C.R.). First, it has to be made clear that the electric vehicle, besides being effectively zero-emission at the location of its use, presents a net environmental benefit even taking into account the production of electricity. Each and every electric vehicle brought out into the streets will thus contribute to a clean environment. For sensitive areas such as city centres, access control measures such as tolls clearly prove their value to relieve the city centre from polluting vehicles. The principal aim of any policy for the long term will be the promotion of a modal shift from conventional technology vehicles to zero-emission vehicles, the latter taking the principal and preferably exclusive share of the traffic in the most sensitive areas.