CO2 and noise
Cable cars have the best energy and ecobalance
Even with a high transport capacity, urban cable cars display low energy demand. This is demonstrated in studies by German urban planner Frieder Kremer in his book “Innovation Seilbahn” (Innovation Cable Car). The following is an extract from his publication with a few editorial amendments (TU Berlin [Berlin Institute of Technology] 2015: p. 44).
Cable cars are environmentally friendly and therefore also used in conservation areas – such as here in Huangshan (China). Photo: DOPPELMAYR
In the comparison of pollutant emissions from various modes of transport, cable cars perform best (see table below).
This is due both to their technical construction (the mass ratios and wind resistances offset one another) and to exceptionally energy-efficient drives.
As cable cars are operated by electrical current, they represent an opportunity to save fossil fuels, which means that they also reduce the CO2 emissions responsible for the greenhouse effect.
Very low noise pollution
A further, now increasingly significant, environmental aspect – including for the quality of life of the people concerned – is noise pollution. As the individual vehicles on cable cars do not require a separate motor but are rather moved by a central drive housed in the station, the gondolas run almost noiselessly along their route.
Moreover, because they require very little space, cable cars contribute to reducing surface sealing.
Hence, cable cars cause little external impact on their environment. Compared with other modes of transport, cable cars therefore have the best energy and eco-balance.
