The plan includes a wide deployment of charging stations for electric vehicles and the conversion of gas stations to hydrogen refueling
The transportation sector is the main source of air pollution in the city centers and population centers in Israel, and is responsible for about a quarter of the total greenhouse gas emissions. This pollution causes damage to the quality of life and increases the morbidity and mortality rates among the population.
In July 2021, the government approved targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, and this decision-making proposal is jointly led by the three ministries - the Minister of Transportation and Road Safety, MK Merav Michaeli; Minister of Environmental Protection, Tamar Zandberg; and the Minister of Energy, Karin Elharer - includes a series of actions aimed at bringing about an almost complete reduction of carbon emissions from transportation in Israel by the year 2050.
The goals set in July 2021 for the transportation sector are to curb the increase in greenhouse gas emissions originating from transportation in 2030 so that the total increase in emissions will be only 3.3% in relation to the amount of emissions measured in 2015. Also, a goal was set of a 96% reduction in emissions in 2050 compared to 2015. 95 % reduction in emissions from a new vehicle weighing up to 3.5 tons in 2030 compared to a new vehicle in 2020. Starting in 2026, all registrations of new city buses will be clean vehicles.
The new decision from today sets additional targets, among others, an emissions target for vehicles over 3.5 tons: starting in 2035, at least 50% of new vehicles over 3.5 tons will be clean vehicles or vehicles that use fuels that lead to an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel, calculated by cycle fuel life In accordance with the pilot that will be promoted by the ministries of transportation, energy and the environment, regarding non-urban buses, goals will be set for the year 2030 for the transition to importing clean buses. Now, ahead of the climate conference in Glasgow, the ministries are determining the implementation methods in a government decision.
Program details
* Clean vehicles: assistance to public transport operators and shuttle companies in financing the purchase of buses with zero emissions; Issuance of a new public right to a taxi will be limited to vehicles with zero emissions only; gradual transition of large fleets of heavy vehicles to clean vehicles; Accelerated transition of government companies to clean vehicle fleets.
* The charging infrastructure for electric vehicles: arranging an infrastructure for charging electric vehicles in public parking lots, including Hana and Saa parking lots. Establishment of fast and ultra-fast charging stations nationwide on the intercity road network. Also, the adaptation of the electricity network and its development for the purpose of supplying electricity to the charging stations for electric vehicles in the public and private space. Placing charging stations in the parking lots of government offices. Establishing traffic regulations and enforcement for charging and parking of electric vehicles in the public space.
* Reduction of emissions in urban areas: promotion of areas with reduced and zero emissions in cities where, among other things, the movement of vehicles that are not clean will be restricted. Application of "green arrival to work" programs aimed at reducing daily trips to employment areas by private vehicle by assisting employers, employment offices and local authorities in promoting alternatives to private vehicles.
* Adaptation of the planning system for public space with electric vehicles: an inter-ministerial team that will examine the necessary arrangements in order to advance the planning procedures required for the transition to zero-emissions transportation. The team will address, among others, the following issues: adaptation of existing and new gas stations for electric vehicle charging and refueling with hydrogen, adaptation of existing and new refueling stations for electric vehicle charging and establishing guidelines for implementing charging infrastructures for electric transportation. The team's recommendations will be forwarded to the National Planning and Building Council and will include details of the statutory changes required for implementation, among other things, amendments to regulations, amendments to regulations, amendments to legislation, planning guidelines, supplementary measures, as well as the timetables for their implementation.
* Reducing pollution from cruise ships: Adoption of international regulations to reduce air pollution from cruise ships, examination of economic incentive mechanisms to encourage the arrival of pollution-reduced ships to Israeli ports as is customary in sea ports in the OECD countries and examination of the establishment of offshore electrical voltage infrastructures that will allow ships not to use polluting engines while waiting at the dock .
* Vehicles powered by hydrogen: adoption of international standards that will allow the establishment of refueling stations for vehicles powered by hydrogen-based fuel cells and examination of a system of incentives to encourage the use of hydrogen to propel vehicles.
Minister of Transportation and Road Safety, MK Merav Michaeli: "Transportation in Israel must be cleaner. Along with the promise of our right to move from place to place physically, and from place to place in life - we must make our transportation a factor that reduces the climate crisis, not exacerbates it. This critical government decision will set clear and fast standards as possible for the electrification of vehicles, public transportation and commercial vehicles in the coming years, will promote additional innovative technologies, and will ensure that the infrastructure required for this will be developed. All this in addition to budgeting 400 million shekels for electric buses and infrastructure facilities, electrification of the train and infrastructure in the amount of 11 billion shekels, construction of bicycle paths in the amount of 2 billion shekels and other actions promoted by the Ministry of Transportation. Most of all, I am happy about the cooperation and willingness of the partner services to promote the decision together, and I am sure that the other companies and members of the government also see it as a necessity that must be promoted immediately"
The Minister of Environmental Protection, Tamar Zandberg: "The government's decision, which I and my ministry partners are promoting, is part of Israel's preparations to combat the climate crisis and in recognition of the environmental, economic and social benefits of using clean, low-carbon transportation. Israel's climate plan raises a gear on the way to the climate conference in Glasgow, and with this decision we will significantly improve our ability to move in the country and in the cities in particular, we will include significant steps that will allow us to breathe cleaner air and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is a significant layer in the implementation plan to deal with the climate crisis when transportation emissions are about a quarter of all emissions in Israel"
The Minister of Energy, Karin Elharer: "This is one of the first programs we promoted in the government and its approval today, along with a dedicated budget, proves our commitment to promoting the issue. I am hopeful that the steps proposed to develop the infrastructure, to remove the barriers and to make charging stations more accessible will encourage private consumers and public transportation operators to make the transition to clean transportation. The Ministry of Energy will work to ensure that by the end of the year, approximately 2,000 charging stations will be established throughout Israel, which will make it easier for those who have already made the transition to an electric vehicle and will be the first step on the way to a widespread deployment that will encourage the transition to clean transportation."
Is it enough?
The question arises whether it is not too little too late. This criticism will surely be heard by the Israeli representatives who will come to the climate conference in Glasgow. In addition, only electrification does not help, we need to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads and switch to public transportation which will have to be reliable.
It should also be remembered that the success of the application depends on the source of the hydrogen. If it is produced from natural gas, then no change has been made in the level of the emitted greenhouse gases.
More of the topic in Hayadan:
One response
Transportation in Israel will be cleaner much sooner. If they add other incentives of taxation and purchase cost. All this together with the supply that needs to be increased (more manufacturers of electric vehicles in Israel). Private homeowners can also sell electricity to rechargeable vehicles. I saw the idea for this on a good car website https://cartov.info/electric-cars/
Which basically means that the owner of a private house with an unmanned charging station most of the day can charge other people's vehicles for a fee.