My OpenLearn Profile
Personalise your OpenLearn profile, save your favourite content and get recognition for your learning
Free course
Transport and sustainability
Free statement of participation on completion
This free course, Transport and sustainability, explores the issues around sustainable transport and how the role of technology and society can interact to lower the overall impact of transport.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- outline the energy and environmental impacts of transport activities, and their importance
- identify the key points of relevant legislation and targets relating to vehicle emissions
- describe the low-carbon fuels and vehicle technologies that are becoming available to reduce emissions
- compare the environmental improvements that these transport technologies and fuels can deliver
- understand that both technical and behavioural changes have a role in achieving transport sustainability.
First Published: 01/10/2012
Updated: 13/11/2019
Skip Rate and Review
Rate and Review
Create an account to get more
Track your progress
Review and track your learning through your OpenLearn Profile.
Statement of Participation
On completion of a course you will earn a Statement of Participation.
Access all course activities
Take course quizzes and access all learning.
Review the course
When you have finished a course leave a review and tell others what you think.
Sample errata:
Broken link 3 Animated Engines website
Broken link 5 selective catalytic reduction http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/researchdevelopment/a/scr.htm -> https://www.thoughtco.com/adblue-and-clean-diesels-85601
7 Nickel-Cobalt-Magnesium (NCM) batteries are also now in usage. The migration to BEVs has clearly continued apace since this course was written.
Broken link “Mitsubishi iMiEV EV technology website” ->
http://routes.open.ac.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?_IXDB_=routes&_IXSPFX_=g&submit-button=summary&%24+with+res_id+is+res27150=.
Broken link “find BEVs available in the UK” ->
http://routes.open.ac.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?_IXDB_=routes&_IXSPFX_=g&submit-button=summary&%24+with+res_id+is+res27151=.
“One of the main concerns about BEVs is that they only have about a 160 km (100 mile) range and that in most cases recharging is slow (6–8 hours).” …no longer applicable.
“” …the running cost statement can depend on the charging costs between public vs. home, e.g. https://www.whatcar.com/news/petrol-vs-electricity-which-is-cheaper/n24956
The BEV eligible vehicle subsidies are currently highly targetted…
https://www.gov.uk/plug-in-vehicle-grants
Fuel cell vehicles
Figure 17 the “interactive content” is not interactive, shows merely the top of a red car?
Broken link “This is demonstrated in the fuel cell animation provided by the U.S. Department of Energy.” ->
http://routes.open.ac.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?_IXDB_=routes&_IXSPFX_=g&submit-button=summary&%24+with+res_id+is+res27154=.
Broken link “For further details, see the Howstuffworks basics on fuel cells.” ->
http://routes.open.ac.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?_IXDB_=routes&_IXSPFX_=g&submit-button=summary&%24+with+res_id+is+res27155=.
Getting FCVs established
“Honda manufacturing facility in Swindon”, sadly closed 30th July 2021.
Broken link “Hydrogen Highway along the M4 (this BBC report and video clip” ->
http://routes.open.ac.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?_IXDB_=routes&_IXSPFX_=g&submit-button=summary&%24+with+res_id+is+res27157=.
…also, I believe that the M4 highway’s current implementation timescale is somewhat longer than previously envisage! https://hyhaul.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/timeline3.svg
“At the time of writing, we have yet to see how successful this individual company, the car design and the new business model will be” -> Riversimple remains in the test phase.
Broken links “Examples include the GO-OP car, bus and rail cooperative, and Mobility car share in Switzerland” ->
http://routes.open.ac.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?_IXDB_=routes&_IXSPFX_=g&submit-button=summary&%24+with+res_id+is+res27147=.
http://routes.open.ac.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?_IXDB_=routes&_IXSPFX_=g&submit-button=summary&%24+with+res_id+is+res27152=.