Electric boats will help alleviate Bangkok’s traffic, air pollution: UN

[webfact]

Electric boats will help alleviate Bangkok’s traffic, air pollution: UN

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

Old diesel-run boats, like this one plying the Saen Saep Canal, emit black exhaust fumes, which further worsen Bangkok’s air pollution.

 

Agency working with local partners to find new ways to mitigate emissions.

 

DEVELOPING ELECTRIC public transport in the canals could help solve two of Bangkok’s biggest problems – traffic congestion and air pollution, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) suggested. 

 

On World Environment Day, which was marked yesterday, UNEP said a team of experts was now working with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition as well as the Pollution Control Department (PCD) on a project to assess the impact canal-based public transport can have on air pollution in the city. 

 

Bert Fabian, programme officer in the Air Quality and Mobility Unit, said the international agency and its Thai partners are identifying the types and amount of pollutants being emitted from boats plying the canals in Bangkok. 

 

The study aims to find a better alternative that can mitigate the air pollution from this mode of transport. 

 

“Bangkok suffers annual bouts of severe air pollution and this previously unmeasured source may be a significant contributing factor,” Fabian said. “We want to improve the air we breathe, but we can’t do this without the best possible data.”

 

He ventured that once the operators replace their ageing, polluting diesel boats with electric vessels, the city’s network of canals would potentially offer a clean alternative and have a marked impact on both traffic congestion and air pollution in Bangkok. 

 

Sonthi Kotchawat, a prominent environmental health expert, also said that discarding diesel fuel would be key to tackling Bangkok’s air-pollution problems. 

 

“The transport sector is the largest source of air pollution in Bangkok and a recent study found that vehicle exhaust fumes contribute up to 52 per cent of the pollution,” Sonthi said.

 

He added that diesel engine exhaust is by far the worst pollutant as the combustion of diesel releases the highest amount of harmful PM2.5, very fine particulate matter, and other hazardous substances.

 

He also warned that the ultra fine PM0.1, which is even smaller and more harmful than PM2.5, is generated by diesel combustion as well, which further adds to the health hazard of toxic air pollution. 

 

“The best way to tackle air pollution is by controlling polluting emissions at their source. So, the authorities need to come out with a clear road map to control emissions from all sources, especially in the transportation sector, in order to sustainably tackle Bangkok’s chronic air-pollution problem,” he said.

 

World Environment Day this year is marked the #BeatAirPollution theme in a move to highlight the impact of this serious environmental problem on people’s health.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30370622

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-06-06

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[smedly]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Electric boats will help alleviate Bangkok’s traffic, air pollution

no they won't to any degree to make a difference

 

how many boats are there to vehicles on roads in the city sitting in horrendous traffic jams 

[30la]

An electric boat with solar cells has been built in Trang, this can be a solution!

[manchega]

of course you will have the boats carrying diesel generator to keep the battery topped off, but this is the land of lies so why not

[yellowboat]

19 minutes ago, 30la said:

An electric boat with solar cells has been built in Trang, this can be a solution!

It is a good solution for the operator.  Batteries are dropping in price fairly rapidly in China where you see more electric buses and cars in one day than any place else on earth in a year.  Given the number of cars, it doubtful it will make a difference pollution wise.  Just another UN office pogue looking for an extended vacation most likely.  The Klong boats and river ferries were the only real mass transit in Bangkok before the metro and skytrain.  Other than the nasty water they travel on, they are a great way to get around.  Cambodian hardware store has their own solar trike for making deliveries.  At night when they close, five or six workers would get in and head home.

Edited June 6, 2019 by yellowboat

[manchega]

still looking for somewhere to post my photos of polluting vehicles, I have a great one of some military coaches belching out black smoke in N Bangkok stuck in traffic at 9 am when aqi 5 microns was still 100 +

[hotchilli]

Boats in Thailand have a dodgy history... now they're throwing electricity into the mix...

I think I'll walk.. if I can find a safe pavement!

[Cadbury]

40 minutes ago, manchega said:

of course you will have the boats carrying diesel generator to keep the battery topped off, but this is the land of lies so why not

Or they will have to seriously increase the size of the fleet of vessels so that 2/3 of them can be tied up and plugged into canal power points. Won't happen.

[VocalNeal]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Old diesel-run boats, like this one plying the Saen Saep Canal, emit black exhaust fumes, which further worsen Bangkok’s air pollution.

 

This is an attempt at an attention grabbing headline that has no basis in fact. Saen Saep Canal boats have water cooled exhausts so it impossible for any black smoke to be emitted.

 

Sadly we are at the whim of the the social media junkies who can only spout so called environmentally biased crap to get grants or stories published. 

 

 

[neeray]

Coming soon: Grab Boat

[MaxLee]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Electric boats will help alleviate Bangkok’s traffic, air pollution: UN

Yeah,  but they will sink people in an instant, IF they are not maintained properly with proper safety standards which is NOT the case here in Thailand

[petedk]

6 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

 

This is an attempt at an attention grabbing headline that has no basis in fact. Saen Saep Canal boats have water cooled exhausts so it impossible for any black smoke to be emitted.

 

Sadly we are at the whim of the the social media junkies who can only spout so called environmentally biased crap to get grants or stories published. 

 

 

Have you ever traveled on these boats?

 

Sometimes when they shunt back and forth trying to moor at a pier the smoke is unbearable.

[ParadiseLost]

There go any fish left, and anyone else touching the water if they are maintained as well as the rest of Thai public transport vehicles...⚡

 

I recommend:

Edited June 6, 2019 by ParadiseLost

[VocalNeal]

Saen Saep Canal is well aerated with all the shunting back and forth.

[Redline]

Start with cars, trucks and everything burning everywhere-there will be an immediate difference 

[Prairieboy]

On 6/6/2019 at 3:40 AM, webfact said:

Electric boats will help alleviate Bangkok’s traffic, air pollution: UN

Only if you don't consider the coal fired electric generating plants needed to provide the electricity.

 

[VocalNeal]

23 minutes ago, Prairieboy said:

Only if you don't consider the coal fired electric generating plants needed to provide the electricity.

 

 

Anyone concerned about pollution in cities must realize that electric vehicle require electric power which usually comes from outside the city.  So any solution is a "local" solution and not a global one. 

 

If everyone has an electric car then we will need more power stations. They still burn stuff but move any negatives away from the densely populated areas. (Wind and solar phooey as the amount of energy needed is huge) 

 

Any real solution to "save" the planet involves condoms!