There are four drivers on why the e-Link Shuttle makes a great deal of sense
Improving waterborne transportation
Several studies have taken place examining how urban waterborne public transport services are evolving especially in relation to consumer usage and cost sustainability (1). Many cities continue to operate aging fossil fuel waterborne vessels on primary marine commuting routes despite the modernization initiatives being undertaken to upgrade their land based public transport modes to introduce more environmentally friendly fuel systems and technological amenity features.
Many cities have been hesitant to make large-scale investments in eco-friendly, water-based transportation modes due to the lower relative economic return value when compared to ground-based transport volume returns. Cities that have pursued modernization have either been led by private sector entrepreneurship, or strong political leadership focused on making longer term transformative change in the use of urban waterways for transport.
Studies have shown that passengers prefer to travel more on the water when compared to equivalent bus journeys and this suggests either aesthetic or productivity benefits that accrue to water transit users (2). For individuals, affordability, accessibility, safety, reliability and habit are all important factors. Travel behaviors, particularly those of young people, are shifting. Initial data indicates that car use and ownership is less prevalent among young cohorts than it was in the past. This is mirrored by their greater openness to the “sharing” economy, which new technology will increasingly facilitate.
(1) Urban waterborne public transport systems: An overview of existing operations in world cities | 2018 Study conducted by KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Engineering Sciences, Department of Aeronautical and Vehicle Engineering Centre for Naval Architecture.
(2) UK Gov’t Office of Science, January 2019 The Future of Mobility: A time of unprecedented change in the transportation system.
Alignment with waterfront rejuvenation initiatives
Some cities have leveraged water transit networks to encourage waterfront rejuvenation programs. Such coordinated efforts would make sense to increase density and business around terminals and create new key city precincts to further increase the viability of water transport services.
The environmental benefits of water transit may prove to be an important consideration for cities who wish to measure success by other metrics in addition to passenger numbers and economic benefits. Many inland waterways are currently underutilized, and by shifting transport to these waterways, benefits can be achieved in reducing not only vehicle pollution and congestion, but travel times.
Another potential avenue is shifting freight movements from urban streets to waterways to increase delivery reliability and remove trucks and other delivery vehicles from congested streets. Such metrics could prove to be key indicators in the development of water transit in cities looking to achieve these environmental goals.
‘Green movement’ in Water Taxi Market
The global Water Taxi Market is expected to surpass $500 billion by 2024. Greatest growth is expected to be in US and Europe (3). Water ferry (or taxi) helps to provide a reduction in traffic congestion on roadways and quick ‘point to point’ transportation at fixed speed and are considered more economic passenger transportation as compared to other modes.
Rising prominence of green movement has resulted in significant demand for electric ferries. This can be attributed to various benefits offered such as reduction in human efforts, durability, and minimal noise & water pollution.
Water taxi market from ferries is anticipated to grow rapidly, exhibiting over 6% CAGR from 2018 to 2024 (3). Compared to leisure usage, this market is used dominantly for transportation of passengers for work purposes which plays a significant role with Urban (City) Planning.
Hybrid taxis will witness growth at over 5% from 2018 to 2024. Moreover, rising penetration of green movement will further strengthen the penetration of hybrid boats, escalating the revenue generation of water taxi market beyond 2024 (3).
(3) Market Trend Insight: 2017 Water Taxi Market Report.
Last-mile delivery trends
A trend for last mile delivery is the requirement for zero emission transport particularly in central and densely populated areas of cities. Not only cargo vans and trucks will be electrified. We will see more light electric freight vehicles (like cargo bikes) on the cities’ streets because of lower cost and greater flexibility (4).
DHL Worldwide, UPS, Uber, and several other delivery companies are using waterways in London, Amsterdam, Paris, Mumbai, and elsewhere, to deliver packages that are unloaded onto a wharf where they can be distributed to drivers on e-bikes or forms of transport for last-mile transit. eLC has designed our shuttles so that the upper house can be easily configured to carry passengers or lite cargo.
(4) McKinzey & Company: Fast forwarding last-mile delivery – implications for the ecosystem | Travel, Transport, and Logistics and Advanced Industries July 2018
“The global Water Taxi Market is expected to surpass $500 billion by 2024 with the greatest growth expected to be in the US and Europe.”
Global Market Insight: 2017 Water Taxi Market Report
The e-Link Shuttle
From an operating perspective, compared to traditional fossil-fuel vessels, there is less maintenance and operating costs. Plus, this solution contributes to enhancing the eco-brand of an organization who adopts this mode of transport (whether it be an operator, city, or an island).