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You're forgetting train (completely viable for China -> Europe), and the times where train isn't viable, a direct shipping express can be as efficient as allowi
by Fnoord 5y ago
You're forgetting train (completely viable for China -> Europe), and the times where train isn't viable, a direct shipping express can be as efficient as allowing. What you quote with regards to 77 days is around the world but that isn't interesting for transport (that's interesting for leisure of just for the sheer competing; not transportation business).
What is interesting is the amount of time from large industrial ports such as say Singapore or New York to Rotterdam or Hamburg or Antwerp, the associated costs, and the risk of losing the transport (and its contents).
Either way, the last mile is the inefficiency with regards to carbon footprint. Ie. the transportation ship (and more so train) is relatively efficient; the last mile of the minivan delivering the one packet to you is the one which has the largest (relative) carbon footprint. To solve that, we need to invest in electric vehicles.
- snovv_crash 5y agoTrain needs a massive upfront infrastructure investment, and isn't flexible for route when passing through politically unstable areas. China -> Europe needs to cross through at some point. Similarly, Africa -> Europe by train needs to cross in a politically unstable area. Being able to choose your route is very valuable.
- Fnoord 5y agoThe infrastructure for trains is already there (China -> Europe), its just static and therefore inflexible. It isn't going through politically unstable areas, just Russia. As long as you don't bet on one horse you're going to be fine. I don't know anything about trains from Africa to Europe. I believe China exports more than Africa. Since we don't talk about last mile, they're competing with ship and airplane. For last mile, there's only the minivan/truck solution, though I'm not sure how widely adopted or sustainable drone delivery is as of now. A low carbon footprint of drone delivery would be a plus for adopting it long term.
- 8note 5y agoA blimp still needs to cross those areas, and could be shot down