Can UK lead electric car market?
by Alan Harten
Later this year a few major car manufacturers and automotive suppliers will start a trial of new electric hybrids to see how the environmental vehicles translate in the real world once they are put through an everyday performance test. The hope is that the trial will help the UK see how the electric cars meet public expectations so that the UK can become a leader in reducing carbon emissions. Public ...
Fleet of electric cabs about to hit the road
by Alan Harten
Allied, a taxi company is going to use an Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator car that was developed in the Technology Strategy Board in Glasgow. The development of the car was a joint effort by Scottish Power, Strathclyde University, the Glasgow City Council, and Axeon. Managing director of Allied Paul Nelson commented that this is an exciting opportunity for the taxi company and that they hope it will help build the foundation ...
NY plans bird cull against air disasters
by Alan Harten
Bird strikes became a household phrase after a pilot was forced to land a large passenger plane into the Hudson River in New York, in the early part of spring, however most people are unaware of just how common bird strikes are. In fact, bird strikes having been growing more common in the last several years as the USA federal aviation authority reports show that in 1990 there were only 1,750 ...
Blackpool’s trams given £100m makeover
by David Masters
Blackpool's seafront tram system is to be given a £100 million makeover. Funding has been secured to bring the 120-year old line up to modern standards, the Department for Transport (DfT) said. Sixteen new trams, replacement track, and extra stops will speed up journey times and make the tramway accessible to more people. Transport minister Sadiq Khan unveiled the refurbishment plans this week – one of his first tasks since he was promoted ...
AA tells eco-conscious commuters to car share
by David Masters
Hitchhikers fed up with standing by the roadside for hours as hundreds of cars zoom by will be heartened to discover that one in four of the passing drivers actually think about stopping to pick them up. A recent poll by the AA found that just three in four drivers would never give a hitchhiker a lift. Twenty three percent of men said they would stop if they were going in the ...
“Superhighways” announced for London’s cyclists
by David Masters
Two of London's 12 proposed Cycle Superhighways were unveiled this week by Mayor Boris Johnson. Cyclists will have priority on the two routes, which will provide “safe, direct and continuous” cycling access to central London from South Wimbledon and Barking. Transport for London (TfL) is putting together plans for a total of 12 cycle superhighways, each of which will cover a route of between 10km and 15km, and run on a combination of ...
Ecotricity founder builds wind-powered supercar
by David Masters
Dale Vince, founder of green electricity provider Ecotricity, last October set himself the challenge of building a wind-powered supercar. Vince, a self-confessed “petrol-head and treehugger” (he acknowledges the contradiction), says he set himself the mission to prove that people can still have fun whilst reducing their carbon footprint. He set out to create an “out and out sports car” powered on renewable electricity produced by wind turbines. Vince describes the car he was ...
Hybrids too expensive for Americans
by David Masters
Four in five US adults believe hybrid cars are too expensive, a new survey published this week has revealed. The poll by Johnson Controls found that nine in ten Americans would consider a hybrid if they were buying a new car, but only one in five (23%) would be prepared to pay more for a hybrid compared to a standard vehicle. Furthermore, a third (35%) of Americans would prefer a petrol-only car ...
Obama wants 10 mpg more from all new cars
by Alan Harten
On Monday, Barack Obama passed legislation that will place limitations on car emissions and will force US and foreign auto makers to design more fuel efficient vehicles. The new legislation dictates that all new cars must offer at least 35.5 mpg by the year 2016 in order to reduce US carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 30%. Obama told governors, executives, and environmentalists that the new policy will help the economy, as ...
Round-the-world cyclists highlight solar potential
by David Masters
A trio of British eco-campaigners have set off on a round-the-world expedition on their bicycles, to highlight the potential of solar power in the fight against climate change. Susie Wheeldon, Jamie Vining, and Iain Henderson plan to give the money raised from their 12,000 mile adventure to SolarAid, a charity that teaches poor communities in rural Africa to build and sell solar devices. They'll also be calling on the UN to give ...
Inventor builds DIY solar motorbike
by David Masters
A motorcyclist in Arizona got so fed up waiting for bike makers to release a solar powered motorcycle that he decided to build one himself. Richard Gryzch built 'The Solar Flyer' over a period two years, and funded the project by selling a home and his other motorbikes. The bike has a top speed of 90mph and a 50 mile range – although details of how long it takes to charge on ...
Arizona considers solar powered bullet train
by David Masters
Two of America's deep south cities could one day be connected by a 220 mph solar powered bullet train. Arizona-based Solar Bullet LLC is seeking investment for the Tuscan to Phoenix rail link. The 116 mile journey between the two cities will take just 30 minutes on the bullet train. Technology development for a high speed solar powered train is still in its early stages, although engineers believe bullet trains could be running ...
Olympic construction materials delivered by barge
by David Masters
Many of the construction materials for London's 2012 Olympic Park are to be transported to the site on barges, with an east London waterway being dredged and brought back into use. Water transport has just one fifth the carbon footprint of road transport, and barges can carry up to ten lorries' worth of materials without causing extra congestion on London's roads. To make barge delivery possible, a one-and-a-half mile stretch of water ...
Hybrid car is number one in Japan
by David Masters
A Honda-made hybrid was Japan's best selling car during April, making it the first petrol-electric vehicle to achieve this accolade. The hybrid Honda Insight, launched in February, sold 10,481 units in April, sending it soaring to top the charts from the 21st place it achieved in March. Honda has advertised the Insight as an affordable hybrid, because hybrids tend to have a bigger price tag than petrol-only cars due to the expense ...
Samba bike sharing popular in Rio
by David Masters
Samba, a bike sharing system launched last year in Rio de Janeiro, is proving popular with the city's residents. Samba bike stations are placed along the Copacabana beach promenade of the Brazilian capital. The promenade is the hub of the city's 140km of dedicated bike lanes, with the promenade road closed to motor traffic on Sundays. Bike sharers, including residents and tourists, register online for the scheme, then unlock bikes from stations using ...
Unregulated biofuel crops spread as weeds
by David Masters
Many plants grown for biofuel are invasive species that could wreak havoc in tropical and subtropical ecosystems. A weed risk assessment (WRA) of biofuel crops in Hawaii found that plants grown for biofuel were two to four times more likely to become invasive, or develop wild populations, compared with a random sample of other plants. Seventy percent of plants grown for biofuel have a high risk of becoming invasive, the research found. Scientists ...
Chocolate powered eco racing car
by David Masters
Scientists at a British university have designed a racing car powered by waste chocolate and built from vegetables. The eco-friendly Formula 3 car, which can glide around corners at 125mph, features a steering wheel made from carrots, bodywork derived from potatoes, and a seat crafted from soya beans. Fibres from the vegetables are mixed with resins to make solid parts. Moving parts in the vehicle are greased using plant-based oil lubricants, whilst the ...
Solar refuelling stations for electric cars
by David Masters
A solar powered recharge point for electric cars has been set up in Chicago to power the city council's fleet of electric vehicles. The Solar Plug-in Station was installed by Carbon Day Automotive, and will form part of the city's bid for the 2016 Olympic Games. Plans are now afoot to place solar recharge points around the city in an effort to power all the city's electric cars with zero-emission energy. Each solar ...
EU sticks with deadline to change air conditioner gas
by Alan Harten
By 2011 all cars manufactured by the motor industry for the EU must be outfitted with environmentally friendly air conditioning systems or face the consequences. The news comes at a bad time for an auto industry that is struggling with the poor economy, and it is fighting for the Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC) directive to be delayed until 2017 in exchange for a focus on more environmentally friendly engines. Environmentalists are pleased ...
Nissan brings back electric cars
by Alan Harten
Nissan is the first of several companies which hope to make owning an electric car a more viable option. The electric car was first introduced approximately a decade ago, but due to limited mileage and a high cost the cars never caught on. Nissan expects to release its new model in 2010, with a plan to market it as a second car for families that run multiple short errands throughout the ...