Tallinn was looking into conditions, perspectives, risks and obstacles to the implementation of clean and energy-efficient vehicles.
The main objectives of the measure were to:
- raise awareness of biofuels among transport managers;
- learn from other European cities that have implemented biofuels; and
- draw conclusions, give recommendations to specify state and local transport development plans for the expansion of biofuel or ethanol powered buses in Tallinn’s public transport fleet.
Before the implementation of the measure, there were no biofuel powered vehicles in Tallinn’s public transport fleet. A general lack of knowledge about biofuels is one of the reasons why alternative fuels have not previously been implemented in Tallinn. As part of the measure Tallinn wants to assess risks, fill gaps in legislation and reach out to decision makers and stakeholders.
Two studies were carried out in the scope of the measure:
• The first was conducted by the Tallinn University of Technology (TUT) and was concentrated on different aspects of legislation at Estonian and European level.
• The second study was conducted by the Stockholm Environmental Institute Tallinn Centre (SEI) and was aimed at technical, socio-economic and environmental impacts of bio-diesel, bio-ethanol and diesel-electric hybrid technologies.