Vehicles are polluting in more ways than simply emissions

Maybe it is because of the recent Volkswagen emissions enforcement scandal but our focus has been on unnecessary emissions and their impact. Gary Fuller writes a good article in The Guardian that some wear-particles from brakes and tyres are small enough to be inhaled, and the increase in wear-particles can outweigh the benefits of improvements … Continue reading Vehicles are polluting in more ways than simply emissions →

There are growing options for reducing emissions and improving fuel efficiency in road freight

We regularly talk about the low-carbon energy transition, but the transport sector struggles for alternatives. While there are growing efforts, it is important to stay focused on reducing emissions and improve fuel efficiency. An article on the American Journal of Transportation website about the “bold challenge” to increase fuel efficiency and reduce GHG emissions to … Continue reading There are growing options for reducing emissions and improving fuel efficiency in road freight →

Low-carbon alternatives exist to reduce emissions in the shipping industry

Tom Levitt writes in The Guardian about some of the possibilities to use wind power to reduce the emissions in global shipping. Why aren't ships using wind-power to cut their climate footprint? MS Estraden looks, on first glance, like a normal cargo ship. Just another one of the 50,000 vessels transporting pretty much everything … Continue reading Low-carbon alternatives exist to reduce emissions in the shipping industry →

The hydrogen future for vehicles has been slow to arrive but maybe that will change

Neal Boudette writes a good article in the New York Times about the increasing interest in fuel cells for vehicles. There have been efforts for many years without any market breakthrough. Could that change? Water Out of the Tailpipe: A New Class of Electric Car Gains Traction Steve Manning, a financial consultant in Southern … Continue reading The hydrogen future for vehicles has been slow to arrive but maybe that will change →

Signals 2016 – Towards green and smart mobility

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has recently published a new report on our evolving transport system. Transport plays a critical role in the way we live. Our food, clothes and household waste all need to be transported, contributing to our economy and quality of life. But the increasing use of planes, cars and other fossil-fuel … Continue reading Signals 2016 – Towards green and smart mobility →

Giving a nudge to pilots

We have known for some time about how our driver behaviour can affect overall fuel consumption. Normally we think about it in terms of our cars and goods vehicles. Chris Mooney writes in the Washington Post about an experiment by Virgin Atlantic Airways to “nudge” their pilots into using less fuel. Virgin Atlantic just … Continue reading Giving a nudge to pilots →

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 →