Category: transport

Canada’s vehicles have the highest average fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions per kilometre driven

Blake Shaffer from the University of Calgary writes on The Conversation website about the poor fuel efficiency of Canada’s vehicles. There are some good graphs that compares Canada with many countries. How is your country doing?   When it comes to vehicles, Canada tops the charts for poor fuel economy Usually when Canada is at … Continue reading Canada’s vehicles have the highest average fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions per kilometre driven →

The transition to electric cars, trucks and ships will be dramatically harder that it sounds

David Keith, Assistant Professor of System Dynamics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Christopher R. Knittel, Professor of Applied Economics and Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research at the MIT Sloan School of Management write on The Conversation website about the difficulties to reduce carbon emissions from cars and trucks. … Continue reading The transition to electric cars, trucks and ships will be dramatically harder that it sounds →

Canada faces dilemma in implementing more ambitious fuel efficiency standards for vehicles

Canada is trying to get on track to meet its long-term climate objectives. One important area is transport, however, with Canada’s car industry so intertwined with that in the US, and with the US government not wanting to have more ambitious fuel efficiency standards, it leaves a dilemma for Canadian policymakers.  Ian Bickis explains in … Continue reading Canada faces dilemma in implementing more ambitious fuel efficiency standards for vehicles →

Why researchers have to think twice about all their travel

We know we will need to change our ways of life in order to effectively address climate change. Xavier Anglaret, Directeur de l’équipe « Maladies infectieuses en pays à ressources limitées » du Centre Inserm 1219 at the Université de Bordeaux, Chris Wymant, Senior Researcher in Statistical Genetics and Pathogen Dynamics, University of Oxford and … Continue reading Why researchers have to think twice about all their travel →

Making cruise ships more energy efficient

An Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) researcher has developed a system based on fuel cells to reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption of cruise ships, which are increasingly popular among vacation goers around the world. Pranjal Mehar explains on the Tech Explorer website.   More energy-efficient cruise ships Putting in half a month … Continue reading Making cruise ships more energy efficient →

New solar-powered three-wheeler motorcycle helping to clean up Nairobi

Sophie Mbugua writes on the Deutsche Welle website about a new initiative to promote solar powered motorcycles in Kenya. Pollution is a big problem that needs innovative approaches. Importantly, electric motorcycles do not require an investment in new transport infrastructure such as the installation of special charging stations. It will be interesting to see how … Continue reading New solar-powered three-wheeler motorcycle helping to clean up Nairobi →

Daimler announced in December that it is making major effort on batteries

Before the end of the year, Daimler announced it was going to spend  €21 billion (US $23 billion) on batteries and manufacturing facilities as it gears up on electric vehicles. Charles Riley explains in an article on the CNN website.   The maker of Mercedes cars is spending $23 billion on batteries The maker of … Continue reading Daimler announced in December that it is making major effort on batteries →

What is the true impact of fuel economy standards on the poor?

Energy efficiency policies in the US certainly have their challenging moments.  Steve Hanley writes a spirited article on the CleanTechnica website about the divergent views on fuel economy standards for vehicles on the most vulnerable. What are your views?   Big Oil Claims Higher Fuel Economy Standards Hurt Poor People The Most. That's A Lie. … Continue reading What is the true impact of fuel economy standards on the poor? →

London’s world-famous black cabs are major polluters

When one visits London, there is nothing but amazement for the ubiquitous black cabs. While there are moves to have more electric vehicles, at this point in time they are still major polluters.  Harry Cockburn explains in an article on The Independent website. London’s black cabs ‘up to thirty times as toxic as personal cars … Continue reading London’s world-famous black cabs are major polluters →