Climate Change News
Sustainable Mobility News
NGOs take Commission to court over biofuels reports
Four environmental groups have sued the European Union's executive for withholding documents they say will add to a growing dossier of evidence that biofuels harm the environment and push up food prices.
Electric charge is a leap of faith
Volkswagen, a long-time sceptic about hybrid and electric cars, has officially shifted gears.
Radically rethinking the automobile
The vision of smart, eco-savvy cars free from the threat of congestion, crashes, pollution and parking spats could soon become reality, according to the authors of a new book, "Reinventing the Automobile."
Russia launches 'cash-for-clunkers' to revive car market
Russia launched on Monday a cash-for-clunkers programme encouraging drivers to trade in old cars for new ones in order to prop up a domestic market badly hit by the global economic crisis.
Mercedes to double investment in electric car technology
Mercedes-Benz will nearly double its investment in batteries and fuel-saving engines as part of an effort to offer electric vehicles.
Automakers try to turn green in gold with Geneva show
Staking claims on "sustainable mobility solutions," carmakers have turned the 80th International Motor Show in Geneva into a high-tech gold rush.
Palm oil: environmental curse or a blessing?
It is blamed for everything from deforestation to threatening the extinction of the orangutan, but palm oil is a vital source of income for many developing countries, the crop's producers say.
Tata to bring electric Nano to Europe in 3 years
India's top vehicle maker, Tata Motors, said on Tuesday it would bring an electric version of the Nano, the world's cheapest car, to Europe within three years, starting with Britain and Scandinavia.
Shell defends continued focus on fossil fuel-paper
Royal Dutch Shell Plc Chief Executive Peter Voser defended the oil giant's retreat from some green technologies to concentrate on oil and gas production in an interview with the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
Opel to launch inner-city electric car
Ailing carmaker Opel is considering launching an electric car for inner-city use to tap what it sees as a high-potential market, the firm's boss said in an interview Sunday.
The battle over biofuel made from algae
A European lobbying group weighed in Tuesday on a fierce debate over the environmental value of using algae to produce biofuels for vehicles.
Tata's JLR gets 519-bln-dollar 'clean technology' car loan
India's Tata Motors said Thursday it received a loan of over half a billion dollars to fund clean car technology research at its British-based premium car unit Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
EU rules out binding green criteria for biomass
The European Commission yesterday (25 February) ruled out binding EU-wide sustainability criteria for biomass, offering member states recommendations for national action instead.
Indonesia to reclassify oil palms as forest
Indonesia is set to redefine oil palm plantations to prepare for a UN-led forestry carbon market.
ARGENTINA: Agrofuels Rev Their Engines
In a measure that was delayed by supply problems, this year Argentina is beginning to require that gasoline be mixed with ethanol and diesel fuel with biodiesel, at a proportion of five percent, to possibly reach 20 percent by 2015.
Several shipping giants help the environment by pulling back the throttle
By halving its cruising speeds over the last two years, Maersk has not only cut fuel consumption on major routes by as much as 30 percent but achieved an equal cut in ships' emissions of greenhouse gases.
Houston aims to be U.S. electric car capital
Houston, nicknamed the Petro Metro for the profusion of oil and gas companies that dot its skyline, is an unlikely host for an electric-car revolution.
ETS airline emissions cap delayed until summer
The European Commission is unlikely to propose an emissions cap for airlines operating flights into and out of the EU from 2012 before the summer, an industry source told ENDS. The cap was initially due to be announced last August.
Green cities ready welcome mat for electric cars
In cities like San Francisco; Portland, Oregon; and San Diego, a combination of green consciousness and enthusiasm for new technology seems to be stirring public interest in the cars.
British Airways to buy jet fuel from city waste
British Airways will start sourcing a small portion of its jet fuel from municipal waste from 2014, under a deal with U.S.-based biofuel company Solena Group, the two companies announced on Monday.
Controversy mounts over EU biofuels fall-out
Fresh controversy is mounting within the European Union over biofuels and their unintended impact on tropical forests and wetlands, documents show.
Are Hummers green machines? Japan says yes
Starting in the past week, Japanese buyers of the Hummer H3 from General Motors could receive a $2,780 subsidy under revised Japanese fuel-efficiency standards for imported cars.
Spain pushes for common strategy on electric cars
EU industry ministers on Tuesday (9 February) discussed plans to establish a common strategy for electric cars, a pet project of the Spanish EU presidency.
Land-use concerns may change E.U. subsidy policy
As-yet unreleased studies on indirect land-use change could ultimately "kill" subsidized biofuels in Europe by adjusting the formula used to calculate their environmental impact, a top official at the European Commission has suggested.
E.U. studies take issue with support of biofuels
The European Commission has been keeping a lid on studies that a top farm official suggests could "kill" heavily promoted and subsidized biofuels in Europe by focusing on their total environmental impact.
Rapid city growth threat to Africa's development-UN
Rapid and chaotic urbanisation is threatening sustainable development in Africa, the head of the U.N. housing agency said on Monday, but taking steps to mitigate climate change could help tackle some of the problems of cities.
Palm oil plantations are now 'forests,' says EU
The European Commission and some EU member states hope to redefine palm oil plantations as "forests," according to a leaked document from the EU executive.
"Smart" power key as EU sparks electric car debate
Electric cars must be backed by "smart" power networks if they are to help the world's climate problems, environmentalists warned on Monday as European ministers prepared to debate a strategy for the sector.
Commission disappoints on green growth strategy
The European Commission has shown little ambition to develop a truly green growth strategy in its consultation on a post-Lisbon strategy for 2020, several stakeholders have said. Ideas proposed lack substance, they say.
A Netscape moment? Electric cars
The idea of the "Netscape moment", a fund-raising that signals the spawning of a whole new industry, is dear to Silicon Valley types who think back fondly to the browser firm's spectacular initial public offering in 1995. So it was not surprising that in late January Shai Agassi, a former software entrepreneur, greeted a $350m investment in his company, Better Place, led by HSBC, in just those terms.
Shell and Cosan team up on ethanol
Shell and Cosan team up on ethanol. A champion of futuristic biofuels embraces the old-fashioned kind.
Aircraft engine makers hope for short-haul refit boost
Aircraft engine makers will know within months if Airbus will launch a programme to fit more efficient engines to its top-selling single-aisle models, a step that might also prompt rival Boeing to follow suit.
Analysts applaud Shell's Cosan biofuels bet
Investment analysts have responded positively to Shell's planned $12 billion joint venture (JV) with Brazilian ethanol giant Cosan, predicting it could help push Brazilian ethanol into world markets.
China strives for first 'green' Expo
China, the world's number one emitter of greenhouse gases, aims to hold the first "green" World Expo in Shanghai, as the sprawling metropolis tries to shed its polluted past and become eco-friendly.
Obama eyes biofuels, clean coal in new climate push
President Barack Obama laid out new steps on Wednesday to nudge the United States toward energy independence, backing measures to boost production of biofuels and bury pollution from coal.
Shell unveils biofuel joint venture in Brazil
Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell on Monday said it had signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the intention of forming a 12 billion-dollar joint venture with biofuel industry leader Cosan.
Biofuels industry set to suffer from lack of green rules
TheEU's current indecisiononenvironmental criteria for biomasscould discredit the wholeindustry, which lives off its climate-friendly image, Eric Johnson, managing director of Atlantic Consulting, told EurActiv in an interview.
Automakers hit pay dirt in rural India
Rickshaws and bullock carts may be anachronisms elsewhere, but they are the standard means of transportation in rural India. But with government incentives and aggressive salesmanship by manufacturers, cars are making inroads into these untouched markets.
Electric bikes develop into a global industry
Millions of people around the world are taking part in an accidental transportation upheaval, the growing popularity of electric bikes as an alternative to cars.
U.S. electric carmaker Tesla files for IPO
U.S. electric sports car maker Tesla Motors filed for an initial public offering of up to $100 million, aiming to cash in on growing investor interest in battery-powered vehicles and green technology.
Japanese car wins World Solar Challenge in Australia
A Japanese sun-powered car won the World Solar Challenge on Wednesday after averaging speeds of more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) per hour in a four-day race through Australia's desert Outback.
Rolling out the changes
Transport: Manufacturers are using a variety of chemical additives and new materials to reduce the environmental impact of tyres.
Electric cars will get more popular -Shell CEO
Royal Dutch Shell Plc expects electricity-powered vehicles to account for as much as 40 percent of the worldwide car market by 2050, Chief Executive Peter Voser said on Thursday.
EU drafts reveal biofuel's "environmental damage"
Biodiesel and other "green" fuels that Europeans put in their cars can have unintended consequences for tropical forests and wetlands, European Union reports show -- the first evidence of EU misgivings.
Emissions labels for motorbikes
The European Commission plans to propose rules that would oblige motorcycle manufacturers to label new models with the amount of carbon dioxide they emit, Giacomo Mattino, a senior official in the directorate for enterprise and industry, said Thursday.
UK biofuel suppliers fall short of sustainability targets
Several major suppliers of transport fuel in the UK failed to meet the sustainability criteria for biofuels in the first year of the government's pioneering Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).
What the Auto Industry Can Learn from the High Tech Sector
In a recently released Cleantech Point-of-View (POV) article , Airfoil Public Relations urges the automotive industry to adopt the flexible, fast-to-market strategies of the technology industry and points out that tech developers have much to learn from best manufacturing practices developed by auto companies.
India's 'miracle' biofuel crop: too good to be true?
To its fans, jatropha is a miracle crop, an eco-friendly answer to India's growing energy needs, but some experts are starting to question whether the wonder-shrub is too good to be true.
Big backers join car-charging venture
Better Place, the closely watched start-up that hopes to create vast networks of charge spots to power electric cars, is set to receive $350 million in new venture capital.
Electric car firm Better Place raises $350 mln
Better Place, an infrastructure provider for electric cars founded by former SAP executive Shai Agassi, has raised $350 million in fresh equity as part of a second round of financing.
Small cars, big question
For all the woes of the city that hosts it, Detroit's annual motor show is still a bellwether for America's car industry. Last January, as the industry grappled with its biggest crisis in living memory and at least two of Detroit's Big Three carmakers teetered on the brink of collapse, the usual razzmatazz was replaced by fear and foreboding. This year hope had returned, but accompanied by deep uncertainty.
Novozymes sees U.S. producers failing to meet 2010 mandate
The world's biggest producer of industrial enzymes sees U.S. biofuels producers falling just short of meeting the nation's 2010 blending mandate.
Plug-ins will make up 20% of global market by 2030 -- report
Plug-in electric vehicles will make up nearly 20 percent of the global market for passenger cars and light-duty trucks in 2030, a leading economic forecasting firm said today.
Liner shipping sector calls for efficiency standards
New ships should meet binding efficiency standards and existing ships should face fines if they drop below a separate efficiency benchmark, says the World Shipping Council (WSC), which represents the liner shipping industry.
Official data confirms 3.3% drop in car emissions
Average emissions from new passenger cars fell by 3.3% to 153.5 grams of CO2 per kilometre in 2008, according to official data published by the European Commission last week. This is the largest decrease since monitoring began.
Airbus to test biofuels when available
Airbus Industrie is sure that biofuels, the 'green' hope of the aviation sector, will work in its planes and is looking forward to testing them, a senior official for the European airliner builder said on Thursday.
EU faces years more wrangling over car emissions
Europe's incoming climate chief is determined to crack down on emissions from cars, but any new goals are at least a decade away.
Toyota secures long-term lithium supply for batteries
Toyota Tsusho Corp., a key supplier for Toyota Motor Corp., secured loans for a stake in an Argentina-based lithium project, with production planned for 2012.
Palm oil initiative may split over CO2 emissions
A British consortium of companies and environmental groups used to certify sustainable sources of palm oil is divided over the need to control carbon dioxide emissions as part of its standards.
EU sees solid biofuels growth, challenges ahead
The European Union has seen solid growth in the use of biofuels, but the bloc faces tough challenges in meeting its 2020 renewables target in transport, experts said on Wednesday.
Commission waters down CO2 proposal for vans
The European Commission has caved in to industry and member-state pressure and significantly backtracked on earlier ambitions to introduce legally-binding CO2 cuts for new vans and minibuses.
EU to launch new electric cars project - Zapatero
The European Union is about to embark on a major new project to support the growth of electric cars, Spain's prime minister said on Wednesday in his role at the helm of the European Union.
Putin backs Russia's first electric car project
Russia's richest man, Mikhail Prokhorov won early backing from Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for his plan to start mass production of electric cars, Putin's spokesman said on Tuesday.
Japan alters car scrappage scheme to include U.S.
Japan's Trade Ministry changed the terms of its car scrappage incentive scheme on Tuesday to include vehicles imported from the United States, after complaints from Washington that U.S. vehicles were being excluded.
Hedegaard eyes tougher emission cuts from transport
Connie Hedegaard, the EU's incoming climate policy chief, pledged to tackle transport emissions during a confirmation hearing in the European Parliament on Friday (15 January), saying she would table an integrated legislative package on climate and transport during her mandate.
Toyota to double hybrid output in 2011 -Nikkei
Toyota Motor Corp aims to double its global output of gas-electric hybrid cars to 1 million units in 2011, as it fights to stay in the lead in the growing market for low-emission cars, the Nikkei business reported on Monday.
Car makers bank on efficiency credits for electric vehicles
The Obama administration is proposing to spur the development of hybrid and electric cars by allowing the low-to-zero emissions produced by one such car to count for up to two vehicles when an automaker's fuel-efficiency standards are calculated.
Offsets lose credibility as salves for carbon glut
It has proved difficult to monitor or quantify the emissions-reducing potential of the thousands of green projects financed by customers' payments, and there are no industrywide standards.
Alternative fuel can power 15 pct of flights by 2020: Airbus
Alternative fuels could power 15 percent of global air traffic by 2020 and 30 percent by 2030, European aircraft-maker Airbus said at the Dubai Airshow on Tuesday.
U.S. carmakers continue long lag in efficiency -- EPA
Light-duty vehicles featured better fuel economy and emitted less CO2 for the fifth year in a row, U.S. EPA said in an annual report on Friday.
Converting auto fleets to electricity
While mass consumer acceptance of electric or hybrid-electric vehicles evolves, one maker of electric vehicles is looking to tap into the renewed activity in the auto fleet market.
Japanese solar car leads race Down Under
Japan's Tokai Challenger was on Monday leading a solar car race across the harsh Australian Outback, having covered about half of the 3,000 kilometre (1,860 mile) desert course, officials said.
Car makers may face tougher CO2 curbs in EU
Curbs on carbon dioxide emissions from new cars should be reviewed and possibly tightened as they may be insufficiently ambitious, the nominee for European Union climate commissioner said on Friday.
Electric car road test planned for Quebec
Quebec's power utility is teaming up with Mitsubishi Motors to road test the performance of up to 50 all-electric vehicles against the rigors of the Canadian climate and measure their infrastructure needs.
Automaker reaches for big prize
BYD Auto's goal would require the company to overcome numerous hurdles, including crash and emissions testing that can sometimes take years, not to mention arranging a network of dealers.
Carmakers going greener with electric push
Nissan Motor Co unveiled a sketch of its first all-electric light commercial vehicle and Toyota Motor Corp introduced an electric car concept, underscoring carmakers' drive into zero-emissions vehicles.
EPA proposes a new refrigerant for cars
U.S. EPA is proposing to approve an air conditioner refrigerant that could lower the greenhouse gas emissions from new passenger cars and trucks.
Biofuels - New Report on a Burning Issue
A far more sophisticated approach needs to be taken when developing biofuels as an environmentally-friendly energy option a new report concludes. It recommends that governments exercise caution when attempting to fit biofuels into an overall energy, climate, land-use, water and agricultural strategy if their deployment is to benefit society, the economy and the environment as a whole.
Electric cars take on hybrids at Tokyo show
Futuristic concept cars, ultra-efficient hybrids, zero-emission electric vehicles and even a hydrogen-powered scooter jostled for the limelight as the Tokyo Motor Show kicked off on Wednesday.
EU ministers plan to curb CO2 from planes, ships
European environment ministers agreed on a proposal on Wednesday to curb global emissions from planes and ships by 10 percent and 20 percent over the next decade in the fight against climate change.
Vehicle exhaust linked to heart and respiratory illnesses
A report by an independent institute found "evidence of a causal relationship," but not proof of one, between pollution from vehicles and impaired lung function and accelerated hardening of the arteries.
"Walking the low-carbon talk" still difficult for many Chinese
Recently, there has been much talk about climate change in China. Awareness-raising ads like the subway posters are common in public places and on the Internet. Yet, even though ordinary urban Chinese are aware of the problem, it is not easy for many of them to walk the talk.
Hybrids, Real and Concept, Emerge at Detroit Auto Show
As with the Consumer Electronics Show this year, the annual North American International Auto Show had its fair share of green technology - both real and conceptual - on display.
Seeking a Consumer Culture Revolution
The last 50 years have seen an unprecedented and unsustainable spike in consumption, driven by a culture of consumerism that has emerged over that period, says a report released Tuesday by the Worldwatch Institute. This consumerist culture is the elephant in the room when it comes to solving the big environmental issues of today, the report says, and those issues cannot be fully solved until a transition to a more sustainable culture is begun.
Automakers show off their greener side
At the opening of the Detroit auto show, the internal-combustion engine seemed almost pass as global automakers presented a number of hybrid gas-electric and battery-powered models.
BMW, Mercedes fight for e-car lead, but VW sceptic
Daimler and BMW are feuding over just whose test fleet of small electric cars is closest to serial production in an attempt to ditch their image of thirsty, high-performance luxury cars.
Study predicts big-city dwellers will give electric cars an early push
Electric vehicles could become a larger presence in the streets of New York, Shanghai and Paris in the next five years than elsewhere. According to independent research conducted by McKinsey & Co., the cars could make up more than 15 percent of new vehicles sold by 2015 in some mega-cities.
Ford Introduces Next-Gen Focus, Confirms Plans for Electric Car
Ford unveiled its next-generation Focus today at the 2010 North American International Auto Show , where the company showed off its best bet for making deeper inroads into the market for fuel-efficient -- as well as efficiently made -- compact cars.
U.S. announces $187 million for fuel efficiency
The Obama administration plans on Monday to announce the selection of nine projects totaling $187 million aimed at improving the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks.
Prius hybrid tops Japan's car sales in 2009
Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius was Japan's best-selling car last year, the first time a hybrid has topped annual sales.
Batteries for electric vehicles to remain costly -- study
While most analysts expect electric vehicles to grab a bigger share of the market, a slow decrease in the cost of battery packs will hinder their ability to compete with conventional vehicles, according to a new study by Boston Consulting Group.
Ford chief bets on one global car
The car is small, fuel-efficient and packed with technology and safety features that, Alan Mulally believes, will appeal to consumers in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Fed up - Germany's solar subsidies
While most analysts expect electric vehicles to grab a bigger share of the market, a slow decrease in the cost of battery packs will hinder their ability to compete with conventional vehicles, according to a new study by Boston Consulting Group.
Canada to study biofuel's environmental impact
The Canadian government has ordered a study of the environmental impact of making ethanol and biodiesel just as a government regulation mandating fuel blending is set to take effect.
Report takes aim at U.S. ethanol policy
The federal biofuels policy is expensive, ineffective from an energy security standpoint and environmentally damaging, according to a think tank policy study that urges Congress to revise ethanol targets to more "achievable" levels.
Report calls for emission-cutting rules for airlines and shipping
Global emissions from planes and ships will triple by midcentury unless policies are put in place to curb their greenhouse gas output, according to a new report from an environmental think tank.
Mexico vows to set new efficiency rules for autos
Mexico will limit imports of inefficient used cars and encourage low-carbon technology to reduce its overall volume of tailpipe exhaust, the energy ministry said on Tuesday.
US scrapped more cars than bought new ones in 2009
Americans scrapped more automobiles than they bought last year as the ragged economy reduced demand and some major cities expanded mass transit service, according to a new report.
Debate rages over future of plug-in hybrids
Hybrid car advocates have taken aim at a government study that predicts it will take decades and hundreds of billions of dollars before the vehicles reach viability.
U.S. cracks down on lung-harming ship emissions
U.S. environmental regulators on Tuesday finalized engine and fuel standards for U.S. flagged ships to cut emissions that cause lung diseases and save more than $100 billion in health costs.
Rising affluence sees Beijing cars pass four million mark
The spiralling number of cars on the roads of China's sprawling capital are a sign both of the increasing affluence of the city's middle class -- and the challenge the government faces in terms of reducing toxic air pollution.
A pro-bicycle city faces trouble promoting electric cars
Cars in the pinched, medieval streets at the center of this city can quickly clog traffic. The policy has been to find myriad ways to discourage them, clearing the way for more and more bicyclists.
Canadian auto parts makers poised for green gains
A push by U.S. automakers to build more fuel efficient vehicles is playing to a strength of Canada's auto parts makers and positions them to pick up market share as the industry emerges from recession.
States reach deal on intelligent transport systems
Transport ministers reached agreement on Friday on draft rules to create an EU framework for deploying intelligent transport systems (ITS). Governments are aiming to finalise the legislation in negotiations with MEPs early next year.
Mr Ghosn bets the company - Renault's electric-car gamble
Mr Ghosn believes that by 2020 purely electric, zero-emission vehicles will take 10% of the global car market. What is more, he wants such vehicles to account for 20% of Renault-Nissan's sales by then.
Toyota pushes hybrids with new model, S.Korea launch
Toyota Motor Corp is ramping up its push on gasoline-electric hybrids, launching a new model in Japan and taking on up-and-coming competitor Hyundai Motor Co in its Korean home market with its flagship Prius.
Lighter cars, more efficiency, aluminum makers say
If automakers use more aluminum and less steel in hybrid and electric-powered vehicles, they could cut the cost to consumers by $3,000 per vehicle, an aluminum industry-backed report says.
Electric cars don't deserve halo yet: study
Electric cars will not be dramatically cleaner than autos powered by fossil fuels until they rely less on electricity produced from conventional coal-fired power plants, scientists said on Monday.
Toyota seeks a short-range plug-in hybrid for the long haul
Toyota Motor Corp. is on track to start testing the prototypes for its first crack at plug-in hybrid cars later this year, a spokeswoman said yesterday.
seeks a short-range plug-in hybrid for the long haul
Toyota Motor Corp. is on track to start testing the prototypes for its first crack at plug-in hybrid cars later this year, a spokeswoman said yesterday.
UNEP sustainability panel highlights dirty biofuels
The production and use of biodiesel from palm oil on deforested peatlands in tropical regions can generate up to 2,000% more greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels, according to a study published by a UN sustainability expert panel on Friday.
Brazil warns EU on biofuel sustainability
EU rules for calculating indirect land-use changes caused by biofuel production would not be legitimate without an internationally-accepted methodology, a group of developing countries has told the European Commission.
As climate negotiators stalemate, industry acts
The apparently deadlocked effort by delegates from nearly 200 countries meeting in Copenhagen to reach a deal to combat climate change has highlighted the considerable political challenges involved in lowering global greenhouse gas emissions.
China suspends move to limit e-bikes
China's Standardisation Administration said on Wednesday it has suspended some requirements that could have restricted the use and production of electric bicycles in the country.
Toyota plans wide sales of its plug-in car in 2011
Toyota Motor said Monday it planned a widespread release of the low-emission car in 2011.
Toyota to sell plug-in hybrids to consumers in 2 yrs
Toyota Motor Corp will begin selling "affordable" plug-in hybrid cars in 2011, upping the ante on General Motors and Nissan Motor as they aim to take the lead in the field of rechargeable cars.
Optimism for greentech sector points to more IPOs
Purse strings are loosening, new bets are being placed, and cautious optimism has caught on in the green technology sector.
India electric car pioneer plans biggest plug-in car plant
Chetan Maini, the engineer who pioneered India's first electric car, had his eureka moment two decades ago when he drove a vehicle fuelled by solar power across the blazing Australian outback. Now Maini, the man behind Reva Electric Car Co., is building in southern India what he says will be the world's biggest factory making battery-powered city commuter cars.
Electric cars 'no greener than diesel', study claims
Switching from diesel to electric cars will not dent transport's carbon footprint over the next 15 years as long as Europe's electricity supply remains based on fossil fuels, according to Danish analysis.
ICAO considers emissions trading for aviation sector
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation through market-based measures, improved fuel efficiency and use of biofuels, ahead of December's UN climate talks.
Paper battery shows promise for grid, vehicle energy storage
Ordinary office paper coated with an inky layer of carbon nanotubes or nanowires can make a lightweight, flexible and highly conductive battery or superconductor, according to Stanford University researchers.
Paper battery shows promise for grid, vehicle energy storage (
Ordinary office paper coated with an inky layer of carbon nanotubes or nanowires can make a lightweight, flexible and highly conductive battery or superconductor, according to Stanford University researchers.
Exhaust fumes and mirrors - China's car market
China's car industry. Car sales up, petrol sales flat: stockpiling, fuel-efficiency, or simply lousy data?
In Denmark, a haven of green thinking, electric cars meet skeptics
A big tax break may draw buyers, but it is not certain they can be persuaded to make the switch.
Efficiency best policy says study
Governments around the world could make rapid, substantial and relatively cheap cuts to carbon emissions by pursuing energy efficiency in place of more ambitious, but expensive, technological solutions, says a new study.
Carmakers race to secure electric lead
Snub-nosed and squat, with a no-frills, cramped cabin, the little Peugeot Ion is unlikely to win any design awards. But if current industry trends continue, it may one day be remembered as a trailblazer of zero-emission cars.
Efficient aviation
Both Boeing and Airbus have trumpeted the efficiency of their newest aircraft, the 787 and A350 respectively. Their clever designs and lightweight composites certainly make a difference. But a group of researchers at Stanford University, led by Ilan Kroo, has suggested that airlines could take a more naturalistic approach to cutting jet-fuel use, and it would not require them to buy new aircraft
Options for delaying the ethanol blending wall: John Kemp
As the market for E10 gasoline (a mixture of 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent petroleum-derived gasoline) becomes saturated, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the ethanol industry are urgently seeking ways to push back the "blending wall" .
Aircrafts' efficiency 'barely improved since 2000'
The energy efficiency improvements of new commercial aircrafts have been close to zero since the beginning of the decade despite the oil price hike, a study published by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) on Tuesday has shown.
Parliament rubberstamps law on tyre labelling
The European Parliament yesterday (25 November) gave its final blessing to a new EU regulation that will introduce fuel efficiency labels for all new tyres from November 2012.
Advanced biofuels will stoke global warming -study
A new generation of biofuels, meant to be a low-carbon alternative, will on average emit more carbon dioxide than burning gasoline over the next few decades, a study published in Science found on Thursday.
Ethanol makers eying switch to biobutanol
Facing uncertain economic and political climates, some makers of ethanol are looking to biobutanol as an alternative to the corn-based fuel.
EU to seal deal on label for tyre efficiency, noise
Member states are set to approve a compromise agreement with the European Parliament on efficiency, noise and safety labels for tyres at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday. Green transport group T&E has warned the agreement would be unenforceable.
Long-awaited urban mobility action plan published
The European Commission issued on Wednesday an EU action plan on urban mobility initially due to be published in 2008. The plan contains 20 measures to help local authorities across Europe make urban transport more sustainable.
Urban Mobility - It's Not Getting Better
In 2007, congestion caused urban Americans to travel 4.2 billion hours more and to purchase an extra 2.8 billion gallons of fuel for a congestion cost of $87.2 billion - an increase of more than 50% over the previous decade.
France launches 'battle of the electric car'
France launched the "battle of the electric car" Thursday as it unveiled plans to invest 1.5 billion euros on infrastructure for the two million electric and hybrid cars it wants on the road by 2020.
Honda eyes EV as hydrogen infrastructure lags
Honda Motor is looking into developing pure electric vehicles because slow progress in setting up hydrogen fuelling stations could limit the sale of its fuel-cell vehicles, the head of Japan's No.2 automaker said.
Commission tables action plan on urban mobility
The European Commission's long-awaited Urban Mobility Action Plan was adopted yesterday (30 September) in a move designed to help local and national authorities make urban travel "easier, greener and better organised".
Commercial green fuel from algae still years away
Filling your vehicle's tank with fuel made from algae is still as much as a decade away, as the emerging industry faces a series of hurdles to find an economical way to make the biofuel commercially.
Airlines to commit to ambitious fuel savings
The international air transport sector last week agreed to improve its fuel efficiency beyond government goals in a bid to halve the industry's emissions by 2050.
Airlines set new fuel efficiency, carbon goals-IATA
The world's airlines have agreed to new fuel efficiency and carbon emission targets which go much further than the levels required through regulation, an industry group said on Saturday.
Making palm oil 'sustainable'
Last week, an association of palm oil producers and environmental groups concluded its annual meeting with a decision not to include emissions standards in its certification criteria for "sustainable" palm oil.