Tokyu Railways's power consumption can be divided into operating power, which is used to operate rolling stock, and incidental power, which is used to operate station facilities, signals, and security equipment.
VVVF-controlled trains use inverters to convert the DC current flowing through the overhead wires into an AC current of optimum voltage and frequency to drive the AC motor. This reduces the loss of power. AC motors also have the advantage of being smaller, lighter, and less prone to failure.
In 1986, we became the first in the industry to introduce VVVF-controlled rolling stock. As of April 1, 2021, 98.4% of all our vehicles had been integrated into the VVVF-controlled system, and we will continue to expand the system as vehicles are upgraded.
Railways are mass transit systems and are considered to be an environmentally-friendly form of transport. The amount of CO₂ emitted when transporting one passenger by rail for one kilometer (emissions per passenger kilometer) is about one-fifth that of a private passenger car.
The total number of Tokyu Line's passenger kilometers in FY 2021 was approximately 8.2 billion kilometers. We transport approximately 897 million passengers annually at approximately 9.2 kilometers per person per trip (reference: 9.4 kilometers between Shibuya Station and Futako-tamagawa Station on the Den-en-toshi Line). If we convert this distance into CO₂, each customer emits 177g of CO₂ per trip, which is about 1kg less than the 1,201g of CO₂ that would be emitted by a private passenger car traveling the same distance.
Environmental accounting is implemented as a means of assessing the effects of environmental conservation efforts. This is achieved by comparing the costs of environmental conservation with the effects, including economic, of environmental conservation. The effects of environmental conservation efforts are calculated as much as possible based on the available reliable evidence.
Our environmental accounting for FY 2020 will comply with the Environmental Accounting Guidelines 2005 (Ministry of the Environment) and the Environmental Accounting Guidelines for Private Railway Businesses 2008 (Japan Private Railway Association).
Data collection period: April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021
(Unit: thousand yen)
| Classification | Details of initiatives | Investment amount | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) Business-related conservation costs The environmental conservation costs to control the environmental impact of our major business activities. |
Pollution prevention costs | Measures to prevent air pollution, water pollution, noise, and vibration (maintenance of pollution prevention equipment, installation of soundproof walls, etc.) | 207,668 | 199,612 |
| Global environmental conservation costs | Energy conservation (introduction of new rolling stock, etc.), global warming prevention (installation of equipment to promote railway use, etc.) | 3,005,001 | 81,174 | |
| Resource circulation costs | Proper disposal and recycling of waste | 184 | 89,029 | |
| Total | 3,212,854 | 369,814 | ||
| (2) Upstream and downstream costs All costs to control the environmental impact caused upstream (suppliers) or downstream (customers) of our main business activities. |
Purchase costs for environmentally-friendly products, etc. | 0 | 0 | |
| (3) Management activity costs The environmental conservation costs related to management activities. |
Environmental management, information disclosure, environmental protection costs, etc. | 750 | 41,599 | |
| (4) Research and development costs The environmental conservation costs related to R&D activities. |
Development costs for products, etc., with reduced environmental impact, etc. | 0 | 0 | |
| (5) Social activity costs The environmental conservation costs related to social activities. |
Donations, sponsorships, etc. related to environmental protection | 578 | 0 | |
| (6) Environmental damage response costs The costs associated with responding to the environmental damage caused in the course of our business activities. |
Restoration of nature, compensation for damage related to environmental conservation, costs of dealing with environmental damage, etc. | 0 | 0 | |
| (7) Other costs Other costs related to environmental conservation. |
57,635 | 0 | ||
| Total environmental conservation costs | 3,271,817 | 411,413 | ||
| Railway track-related (rail scrap, etc.) | 651t | 17,068,000 yen |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity-related (coated wire scrap, etc.) | 48t | 7,767,000 yen |
| Vehicle-related (outer ring scrap, etc.) | 262t | 3,167,000 yen |
| Total | 961t | 28,002,000 yen |