EV Magazine January 2023 | Page 75

FLEET & COMMERCIAL

FLEET & COMMERCIAL

Despite these solutions ’ place in the transportation sector , the ability to provide transport solutions for the masses comes down to cost .
“ Even though not everything needs to be electrified , it is crucial to offer affordable and effective transportation options for everyone .”
The cost to consumers , but also authorities , is considered a major challenge of rail electrification . The short-term cost certainly outweighs the long-term issues resulting from a hesitant approach , but Herath-Culley explains how the UK faces political challenges when making the switch .
“ Since only 42 % of the UK ’ s tracks are currently electrified , diesel engines continue to provide most of the network ’ s traction power ,” Herath-Culley says .
“ In the short run , electrification may prove to be expensive . This can sometimes be attributed to expensive civil engineering projects in difficult geographic locations and inefficient manufacturing processes , which frequently need the creation of business cases from an economic perspective .”
EVMAGAZINE . COM [ Jan 2023 ] 75