Jul 4, 09
Hydrogen City Car Hits 300mpg and 30g/km CO2
by April Streeter Open source’, locally manufactured fuel cell car designed for sharing. With politicians and carmakers waxing lyrical about electric vehicles, the squat hydrogen fuel cell car with a top speed of 50mph introduced by start-up Riversimple in June is definitely bucking prevailing trends. But what the Urban lacks in pzazz, it makes up in green credentials. Thanks to its super-light carbon composite body (just 350kg), fuel efficiency reaches an impressive 300mpg. It gives...
Obama Drives Up Fuel Efficiency on Cars
by Polly Ghazi Robust new mileage standards for US auto industry Flanked by two unlikely allies – California’s Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson – President Obama has announced groundbreaking vehicle standards that will further cement the greening of the US car industry. By regulating both miles per gallon and exhaust pollution, the new uniform federal standard links curbs on greenhouse gas emissions with fuel economy standards for...
Backseat Driver: Car doubles as Eco-Instructor
By Hannah Bullock It’s a well-known fact that a vehicle’s gas mileage depends a lot on how it’s handled. By now, we all know the rules of eco-driving at least vaguely: watch your speed, don’t accelerate too quickly, avoid harsh braking, etc. But voluntary adherence to these suggested strategies relies on a variety of inconstant factors. When drivers get rushed or stressed, for example, these principles are often quickly forgotten. Nissan’s accelerator pedal, which ‘pushes...
UK Powers Up Plans For World's Largest Electric Car Trial
by Alok Jha UK government's £25m scheme to slash emissions from transport will allow public to take part in long-term trials of a range of electric cars. From the end of 2009, around 340 electric vehicles will be available to qualifying members of the public in eight different locations around the UK. Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters The UK government will today unveil the world's largest ever coordinated trial of environmentally friendly vehicles. The £25m scheme, which is...
For Greening Aviation, Are Biofuels The Right Stuff?
By David Biello Biofuels – made from algae and non-food plants – are emerging as a potentially viable alternative to conventional jet fuels. Although big challenges remain, the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could be major. Earlier this year, a Continental jet accelerated down the runway at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Nothing out of the ordinary for Capt. Rich Jankowski, who countless times in his 38-year career had eased such two-engine Boeing 737-800s...
Parking Policies Can Reduce Car Use
by Roger Valdez Does parking determine your transportation choices? While putting together an analysis of gasoline consumption, I have been trying to figure out just why Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) in the Northwest has been dropping. Part of the challenge of explaining downward VMT is that it has typically never happened in a sustained way. But, in the last year or so it has been sustained, defying the conventional wisdom of transportation planners. One factor that comes to mind is how easy...
Bike Safer, Bike Smarter, BikeWise
To decrease air pollution and traffic congestion, local governments and other advocates have been heavily promoting a transportation alternative that's good for you and the planet: bike commuting. Although many people are starting to see the benefits of biking, there are still many others who are hesitant because of perceived and real dangers. To help make biking safer we need to make it smarter. Enter Bikewise, a new collaborative information site where bike commuters can enter reports...
Americans Green-Light Higher Fuel Efficiency Standards
By Anna Fahey Why are journalists telling a totally different (and backwards) story? A recent Gallup Poll reveals solid majority support for higher fuel efficiency standards such as those President Obama announced Tuesday. A March poll found 80 percent of Americans in favor of higher standards. So, why are reporters painting a picture only of consumer woe and sacrifice when it comes to this landmark announcement? Obama launched his proposal along with state governors from both sides of the...
More Cyclists Means Fewer Accidents, Says Report
by Peter Walker York is safest place to ride your bike in Britain, while Calderdale, West Yorkshire is the most dangerous, research finds A study of the most and least safe places to cycle in Britain, released today, shows that where there are more riders on the roads there is generally a lower accident rate, while in areas less popular for bikes, cycling can be notably more risky.Contradicting the notion that a mass of inexperienced riders taking to the streets brings a spike in injuries and...
Swine Flu In Perspective
150 deaths is just another day on the highway. Not to belittle anyone's anxiety about the swine flu, but I'm feeling a little peevish this morning. Today's newspaper headlines are screaming that the global death toll appears to have surpassed 150, including the first death outside of Mexico. As a consequence, countries are banning imports, setting up travel restrictions, and scrambling public health resources. Everyone's going code-red. But 150 deaths -- the swine flu grand...
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