Streetcars making a comeback

In my neighbourhood of Montmartre in Paris, the streetcar system is being expanded as you can see in the photograph. Rhonda Bell and Phil Klinkon write on the Metro for Transit & Motorcoach Business website about their evolution. You should enjoy. The Evolution of Streetcar Technology While streetcars may seem like an old-fashioned or … Continue reading Streetcars making a comeback →

Shipping is a major polluter and yet there are no targets to reduce emissions

The transport sector has been a particular problem in trying to reduce emissions, in large part because of its dependence on fossil fuels. Jeremy Plester provides a good article in The Guardian about the particular problems in shipping, a sector that has grown significantly because of the globalisation of our economies and because it is … Continue reading Shipping is a major polluter and yet there are no targets to reduce emissions →

Emissions from diesel engines have higher impact than previously estimated

Abby Young-Powell writes on the Deutsche Welle website about a recent report that documents evidence that the impact from diesel emissions is higher and more deadlier than previously estimated. New analysis reveals deadly scale of diesel emissions The amount of illegal and unreported nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel cars, trucks and buses may be … Continue reading Emissions from diesel engines have higher impact than previously estimated →

Better understanding how polluting our cars are

Almost daily we are reading about the emissions coming from vehicles and what they are doing to our air quality and health. Paul Nieuwenhuis, Senior Lecturer and Co-Director, Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence (EVCE) at Cardiff University, writes a reviewed article on the Conversation website comparing diesel and petrol vehicles. Are diesel cars really … Continue reading Better understanding how polluting our cars are →

Revisions to EU car emissions enforcement strategy opposed by Germany

A German car manufacturer has been at the centre of a global emissions testing scandal. Even given the controversy, the Reuters news service has found out that the German government is going to oppose any overhaul of the enforcement system. Germany opposes key EU car emission test reforms Germany is opposing key elements of … Continue reading Revisions to EU car emissions enforcement strategy opposed by Germany →

A first encounter with a fully autonomous vehicle

We are reading more and more about self-driving cars. California seems to be leading the way but we are hearing of pilot projects in many locations. Vivek Wadhwa, author of a new book, “The Driver in the Driverless Car: How Our Technology Choices Will Create the Future,” writes an article on the Washington Post website … Continue reading A first encounter with a fully autonomous vehicle →

Fuel efficiency improvements of new cars in Europe slowed in 2016

The European Environment Agency published data this week showing that fuel efficiency of new cars continued to improve but at a much slower pace in 2016 compared to 2015. Air pollution Transport Climate change mitigation The fuel efficiency of new cars sold in the European Union (EU) continued to improve last year but at … Continue reading Fuel efficiency improvements of new cars in Europe slowed in 2016 →

One day we may fuel our cars with iron powder

Canadian scientists are look at iron powder to one day provide a cleaner, greener alternative fuel for vehicles. Nicole Mortillaro explains on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation website. Metal as fuel? These Canadian scientists are working to make it happen Imagine one day fuelling your car with iron powder, rather than gasoline. That's the goal … Continue reading One day we may fuel our cars with iron powder →

Benefits of emission standards for vehicles

As the Trump Administration in the US argues whether fuel efficiency standards for vehicles should be scrapped or lowered, it is encouraging to read an article in The Conversation about the benefits of such standards in Australia. Scott Ferraro and Claire Painter from ClimateWorks Australia and Monash University give a good account of the benefits … Continue reading Benefits of emission standards for vehicles →

Powering train networks through renewable energy

Leo Murray writes in The Guardian how electric trains are by far the best long distance transport mode when it comes to carbon emissions – at least when their electricity comes from renewable sources like solar or wind. Solar-powered trains are closer to reality than we might think How can we connect solar photovoltaics … Continue reading Powering train networks through renewable energy →