Push by industry to revise fuel economy standards in the US

With a midterm review of federal fuel-economy rules to begin this summer, the automobile industry in the US is already arguing that the standards should be revised, given the current market situation. Bill Vlasic explains recent developments in an article in the New York Times. Low Gas Prices Create a Detour on the Road … Continue reading Push by industry to revise fuel economy standards in the US →

Developments in the airplane of the future

EiD has regularly had posts on the transport sector including one last week that criticised the lack of action at the recent global climate change conference in Paris. Henry Fountain writes a good article in the New York Times about the latest thinking of technical changes for airplanes. What do you think? Rethinking the … Continue reading Developments in the airplane of the future →

How the global climate conference dealt with transport – or didn’t

The transport sector has always proven to be a complex issue for both energy and climate policy. The sector is highly dependent on fossil fuels and with increasing international travel, it has been easier for decision makers to simply duck the fundamental issues. Andrew Warren, a regular commentator on energy efficiency issues both within the … Continue reading How the global climate conference dealt with transport – or didn’t →

Following the Volkswagen fiasco, Brussels sets out plan to improve compliance

The European Union has many excellent policies relating to energy or climate change. But ensuring good implementation is not simple because in most cases compliance is the responsibility of individual member states. The EU can set out a policy framework but compliance is always a delicate area. Following the controversy that has arisen by Volkswagen … Continue reading Following the Volkswagen fiasco, Brussels sets out plan to improve compliance →

Shipping starting to use liquefied natural gas to reduce carbon emissions

In our global world, shipping is more important than ever. Henry Fountain writes in the New York Times about some shippers starting to use LNG in an effort to reduce overall emissions. Taming Carbon Emissions From the ‘Invisible’ Shipping Industry With its cavernous cargo holds and gleaming white superstructure, the 730-foot Perla del Caribe, … Continue reading Shipping starting to use liquefied natural gas to reduce carbon emissions →

The impact of a growing number of automobiles globally

Whether it is demographic reality or an income effect, the number of cars on roads is set to double by 2030, David Jolly writes in the New York Times. So, what does that mean for our fossil fuel consumption and our need to reduce carbon emissions? Despite Push for Cleaner Cars, Sheer Numbers Could … Continue reading The impact of a growing number of automobiles globally →

The murky world of car testing

We have not heard the last of the repercussions from the deception of Volkswagen in the US and elsewhere. What the long-term effect will be on Volkswagen. More importantly, there is a need for a more robust effective compliance system. Danny Hakim and Graham Bowley write a good article in the New York Times about … Continue reading The murky world of car testing →

Reflecting on what Volkswagen’s errors means in human terms

We cannot just take enforcement lapses casually. What Volkswagen did to deceive the enforcement system has serious implications to our health, as discussed by Margot Sanger-Katz and John Schwartz in the New York Times. Assessing the Human Toll of Volkswagen’s Diesel Deception Volkswagen’s diesel deception unleashed tons of extra pollutants in the United States, … Continue reading Reflecting on what Volkswagen’s errors means in human terms →

Improving the energy performance of vehicles

This probably is not the best week to be discussing improvements in automobiles, given the crisis with Volkswagen and test measurements. However, there is no time like the present time, as they say. Business Vibes provides a good post on the Business 2 Community website about the technological developments that have improved energy performance. Especially … Continue reading Improving the energy performance of vehicles →

Loopholes will persist in new EU emissions tests for vehicles

The IEA first wrote about vehicle tests back in 1984 and one would think we have solved the problems in accuracy. Andy Sharman writes in the Financial Times that the new emissions test will do little to bring official results into line with reality. New emissions test still falls short, say critics A tough … Continue reading Loopholes will persist in new EU emissions tests for vehicles →