Sustainable Mobility: Environmental and Economic Analysis of a Cable Railway, Powered by Photovoltaic System

Nowadays, the massive use of fossil fuels, required to satisfy the energy needs of modern society, has caused evident climate changes which are dangerously destabilizing the ecosystem. Currently, among the sectors responsible for the increased energy consumption are the building industry and the transportation systems. As regards the latter, in particular, the main issue consists in conjugating the growing demand for personal mobility with the safeguard of the environment, providing for policies aimed at discouraging the use of private cars and increasing the use of alternative low-impact energy sources. In this context, the paper aims to analyze the effectiveness of a collective transport system which, being powered by renewable sources and designed to reduce the private car flow directed to and coming from the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, is an example of sustainable urban mobility action. To fulfill this purpose the expected outcome generated by the described measure has been evaluated by both the economic and environmental point of view.