Bedford Driving Lessons » Green Issues

Electric Routemaster bus runs out of fuel on M1…..

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:41:04 +0000

It has been reported that the new prototype London Routemaster bus, just days from being officially unveiled, has run out of fuel. The hybrid bus was en route to testing at Millbrook, in Bedfordshire. The bus battery charges itself through energy from its breaks, so is ideal for stop start driving, but on longer journeys would run on diesel.

An embarrassing oversight not to have enough diesel for the motorway trip, something unlikely to be repeated. Over the new few years as more advances in batteries and green technology increase, these types of buses will be commonplace on our roads.

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Will hydrogen cars ever take off?

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:51:38 +0000

It’s something of a chicken-and-egg scenario. Which needs to come first: the hydrogen car, or the hydrogen refuelling point? Honda believes the latter. This week it (with the help of BOC) unveiled the first open-access hydrogen refuelling facility in the UK at its factory in Swindon. And yet, to date, not one hydrogen-powered car – not even Honda’s FCX Clarity – has ever been sold in the UK. All the vehicles we have seen so far have been demonstration models. And here in lies one of the great challenges for advocates of hydrogen cars. To even get the technology to first base, you must first install an extensive network of refuelling points across the country, or at least across the major conurbations. At least electric vehicles can be charged via a conventional power socket should a public recharging point not be available or convenient. The extensive cost of building such infrastructure can be estimated when you learn that this single facility at Swindon was built with a regeneration grant of £250,000 from the (soon-to-be-axed) South West England Regional Development Agency. (Professor Kevin Kendall, in the video above, states that “we can expect 30-40 such stations in England by 2015″.) And you can see from the underwhelming adoption of LPG-powered vehicles in the UK – despite their significantly lower fuel costs compared to petrol and diesel – the problems that can persist if you don’t build a truly comprehensive network of refuelling points. The perception quickly builds that the technology is a hassle and not as convenient as “conventional” fuels, which, for many people, still over-rides financial considerations. More

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Electric sports car launched that can do 240kmh!

admin — Fri, 13 May 2011 20:23:42 +0000

This is the E-4 Coupé, an electric sports designed and built by Delta Motorsport, an engineering consultancy based at the Silverstone circuit in England – and the company, founded in 2005 by Simon Dowson and Nick Carpenter, is making some outrageous claims for the little two-seater’s performance. Thanks to their experience in motorsport and their focus on light weight and high-efficiency systems, Dowson says, they’ve been able to build an electric car with a range of 320km on a single charge, that can accelerate from 0-100 in less than five seconds and hit 240km/h. Dowson said: “We got involved in designing hybrid and electric cars because they share many of the engineering challenges associated with motorsport – lightweight parts, aerodynamic efficiency and innovative packaging solutions. “We’ve had to re-think road cars from scratch, looking at low-cost composite structures, system efficiencies and innovative seating.” The E-4 has a carbon composite chassis, designed by Delta and manufactured by KS Composites, that weighs only 85kg – about a third of a comparable steel structure that’ll pass EU crash tests. More

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Pasties and pies can now be turned into fuel!

admin — Wed, 11 May 2011 22:14:57 +0000

A Lincolnshire-based green fuel firm has announced plans to use Cornish pasties to make biodiesel. Greenergy is to extract oil from pastries, pies, crisps and other food waste which can be blended with diesel and be sold at petrol stations across the UK. The company responsible for producing 10 billion litres of biodiesel and diesel annually is investing £50 million in its production facility Immingham, Lincolnshire, to process used cooking oils which can make up to 30% of some processed foods. Andrew Owens, Greenergy’s chief executive, said: “We’ve always tried to find ways of reducing the environmental impact of our fuel and as oil prices continue to rise, it’s obviously important to develop alternative sources of fuel. More

DJ charges car from house solar panels!

admin — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:07:07 +0000

Having an electric car is one way of cutting back on fuel costs, but when that electricity is solar-generated then you have a real eco-friendly money saver. This dream has become a reality for Radio DJ Mark Goodier, who has become the first Briton to run a car powered entirely by the sun. The 49-year-old installed 12 solar panels on the roof of his house so he can generate enough power to fully charge his electric Nissan Leaf. It means the Smooth Radio host can complete his 20-mile daily commute without ever having to visit a garage, where petrol costs around 136p per litre. The Leaf takes about eight hours to charge, has a range of 100 miles and a top speed of 90 miles per hour. It is now effectively free to run. The panels on Mr Goodier’s house in Hampstead, north London, generate so much electricity he is able to power his car – and still has some left to sell to the National Grid. He said: ‘The days of sitting in queues at petrol stations and wincing as I pay the extortionate cost of fuel are over. ‘I’m now able to power my car entirely from the free rays of the sun. ‘Every time I plug-in on my driveway, I know it’s not costing me or the environment. More

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EU green tax to add 1.5p to litre of fuel!

admin — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:00:16 +0000

Brussels bureaucrats are cooking up a new ‘green’ fuel tax – and its impact will hit owners of diesel cars hard. Owners of petrol engined cars will also be hit, though not as much. UK motorists are already being clobbered by the soaring price of fuel. MORE fuel pain could be en route. The tax proposed would see extra cash charged for diesel because the tax would be based on a fuel’s energy content rather than its volume. Diesel contains more energy – more carbon – than petrol. Which is why they’re often more economical as well as more powerful. But the EU argues that without a level ‘energy’ playing field, diesel vehicles (and their owners) are effectively being subsidised. Unfair, they cry. Diesel cars are hugely popular, not just for their efficiency but also for their ‘green’ credentials. New diesel cars in the UK outsell petrol cars by some margin. Diesel cars generally emit considerably fewer carbon emissions. However, the flip side of the coin is that diesel cars also emit more smaller polluting particles, which can damage air quality. More

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UK rejects EU call for city centre ban on petrol cars!

admin — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:20:38 +0000

The UK has rejected proposals from the EU which call for a ban on petrol and diesel cars from city centres by 2050. The European Commission said phasing out “conventionally fuelled” cars from urban areas would cut reliance on oil and help cut carbon emissions by 60%. But UK Transport Minister Norman Baker said it should not be “involved” in individual cities’ transport choices. “We will not be banning cars from city centres anymore than we will be having rectangular bananas,” he said. Outlining plans for a “Single European Transport Area”, the Commission said there needed to be a “profound shift” in travel patterns to reduce reliance on oil and to lower emissions from transport by 60% by 2050. As part of this, it wants half of “middle distance journeys” between cities – above approximately 186 miles – to shift from road to rail. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote The widely-held belief that you need to cut mobility to fight climate change is simply not true” End Quote Siim Kallas EU Transport Commissioner Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said this move, plus the phasing out of petrol or diesel cars in city centres, need not inconvenience people. “Freedom to travel is a basic right for our citizens,” he said. “Curbing mobility is not an option. Nor is business as usual.” “The widely-held belief that you need to cut mobility to fight climate change is simply not true. We can break the transport system’s dependence on oil without sacrificing its efficiency and compromising mobility.” More

£120 fine on the way for having engine idling!

admin — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:23:57 +0000

London’s mayor wants to increase the current £20 penalty and bring it into line with fines imposed for parking offences. If his plans are adopted, it would see motorists in the capital being fined £120 and outside London the charge would be increased to £70. Higher penalties would hit an array of road users from delivery drivers and taxis to mothers waiting to pick up their children from school. Mr Johnson has written to Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary, urging him to toughen the law. Motorists who leave their cars idling “unnecessarily” while parked can be fined under powers given to local authorities in 2002. But according to Mr Johnson’s new air quality strategy, the law is too weak to tackle the noise and pollution caused by motorists who leave their engine idling. It also said the current £20 penalty charge is “too low to be a powerful disincentive.” More

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Green car crosses Australia using the wind!

admin — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 21:49:39 +0000

Every now and then pioneering science offers up a solution to one of the world’s many intractable problems that is as elegant and unexpected as it is brilliantly bonkers. The Wind Explorer is a perfect example. Earlier this month, extreme eco sportsmen Dirk Gion and Stefan Simmerer drove – or rather sailed or possibly even piloted – their unique wind-powered vehicle into Sydney. Eighteen days earlier the two Germans had left Albany in the southwestern corner of Australia with the intention of breezing along the 3,000 mile route using nothing more than the power of the wind. Their purpose-built 200kg convertible is part kite-surfer, part wind turbine and part electric car, and is the first wind-powered vehicle ever to cross the continent (it isn’t recorded how many others have attempted the feat). As Simmerer remarked at the finish: “This journey was resource-efficient and had virtually no impact on the climate.” His co-pilot Gion, clearly the more romantic of the two, added: “A dream has come true.” The basic premise of the Wind Explorer is simple enough. It is a car with a sail. It’s a grown-up version of the land yachts that careen along the flat sands of Weston-super-Mare. However, even the most optimistic advocate of green transport is going to realise that there will be a few irritating issues confronting the motorist who plans to drag himself along the M40 with a spinnaker attached to the front of his Mondeo. Bridges, power lines, traffic jams, 18-wheel juggernauts will all make for a frustrating – even fatally catastrophic – journey. But the wide open spaces of Australia’s outback aren’t bogged down by such mundanities, and Gion and Simmerer were able to deploy their kite sail and reach speeds of up to 80kmh (50mph). More

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Electric cars ‘are as dirty as diesel’ says experts!

admin — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 22:49:17 +0000

Electric cars may portray themselves as ‘zero emissions’ but the overall pollution they generate can be almost as great as a frugal conventional diesel car, consumer watchdogs said today. Electric cars are a lot more expensive to buy – though they are generally cheaper to run as they plug in for their power from the domestic mains, say experts at Which? The amount of carbon dioxide – the so-called ‘greenhouse gas’ blamed by scientists for global warming – created to generate the electricity powering an electric car, can be just as great as that created by the internal combustion engine, they say. The main difference is that while a conventional car’s emissions come out of the vehicle’s exhaust pipe, those created by an electric car are generated at the power station which supplies the electricity. The findings come as the first ever electric car to pass the European crash test was announced – the Mitsubishi i-MiEVsuper-mini – getting four stars out of a maximum five. Experts at Which? compared the carbon dioxide created by charging electric cars with that emitted by the most efficient diesel models and concluded:’Sometimes there’s not a great deal of difference.’ More

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Scientist invent cheaper ‘artificial petrol’!

admin — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 23:15:19 +0000

Artificial petrol that costs 19p per litre could be on forecourts in as little as three years. British scientists are refining the recipe for a hydrogen-based fuel that will run in existing cars and engines at the fraction of the cost of conventional petrol. With hydrogen at its heart rather than carbon, it will not produce any harmful emissions when burnt, making it better for the environment, as well as easier on the wallet. The first road tests are due next year and, if all goes well, the cut-price ‘petrol’ could be on sale in three to five years. Professor Stephen Bennington, the project’s lead scientist, said: ‘In some senses, hydrogen is the perfect fuel. It has three times more energy than petrol per unit of weight, and when it burns, it produces nothing but water. ‘Our new hydrogen storage materials offer real potential for running cars, planes and other vehicles that currently use hydrocarbons.’ The fuel is expected to cost around $1.50 a gallon, or 19p a litre. Even with fuel taxes, the forecourt price is likely to be around 60p a litre – less than half the current cost. More

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Charities turning scrapped cars into cash!

admin — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 11:39:15 +0000

A remarkable scheme which converts old bangers into money for charity has raised more than £150,000 for good causes so far this year. It coincides with a report this week revealing that more than one million cars are still being scrapped illegally in the UK each year. The brainchild of a young graduate from Putney, London, “Giveacar” encourages motorists to donate any defunct vehicle, which the charity gets a local contractor to collect, usually within two days, free of charge. The vehicle is then either auctioned or scrapped, with the value going to the donor’s charity of choice. Set up in January this year, Giveacar works closely with more than 200 charities including Shelter, Leukaemia Research and the Stroke Association. So far the biggest benefactor has been Cancer Research UK, which has received more than £40,000. Nottingham University graduate Tom Chance, 23, the man behind the scheme, said: “I’m interested in green matters and the environment but the driving force was to raise money for good causes. It just seems crazy that no charity was involved in recycling cars.” It’s not just cars that have contributed to the success of the scheme however; other goods including a horsebox, jet ski and a 40-tonne lorry have also been donated. More

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UK drivers ‘most fuel-efficient’!

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 21:23:21 +0000

British motorists are more fuel-efficient than drivers in Europe’s main motoring nations, a poll has shown. A continent-wide survey of more than 5,000 drivers by the Fiat motor company found that with a figure of 62% in possible fuel efficiency, British motorists beat drivers in Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Findings of the study, which used data from half a million European car journeys, revealed that the British are efficient gear shifters, with their driving style built around “exceptionally smooth and thoughtful handling of gears”. More

Wireless charging could be on the way!

admin — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:08:18 +0000

HaloIPT believes next generation of green cars could be charged wirelessly by parking over a transmitter pad or even using electrified roads. The next generation of electric cars could be charged wirelessly and even powered up as they drive over electrified roads, claims a company backed by engineering giant Arup. Employing the same technology used to charge electric toothbrushes, HaloIPT says its wireless charging system could drive the take-up of electric cars and overcome fears that drivers will forget to recharge them. This week the company demonstrated adapted electric cars in London that could recharge themselves simply by parking over a transmitter pad in the road. The Citroën electric cars were fitted with receiver pads on the underside of the car, allowing the cars to be powered up automatically and wirelessly. Drivers of existing electric cars, such as the G-Wiz, Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Nissan Leaf, have to connect a cable from a socket in the side of the car street-side parking meter-like stands to mains sockets in car parks and at home. Anthony Thompson, HaloIPT’s chief executive, told the Guardian that convenience and consumer fears over “charge anxiety” – drivers worrying about forgetting to recharge their electric car – would make wireless charging a success. “There are a number of issues that wireless charging solves with electric vehicles – people are inherently lazy and they don’t like having to take action. With our system, you can recharge without having to make a conscious decision,” he said. The technology works using inductive charging, and the pads in the road can be buried under asphalt, making them effectively invisible. While other companies are working on similar technology, HaloIPT claimed its system can charge with greater lateral movement – meaning parking accurately is not so important – and a greater gap between the pads than rivals. The company has already trialled wireless charging with buses in New Zealand and in Milan, but there are currently no wireless charging bays in the UK and none of the car manufacturers has adopted the technology. More

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Volvo developing car with electric battery body!

admin — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 20:05:28 +0000

It is one of the biggest problems facing the manufacturers of hybrid and electric cars: heavy batteries add weight and bulk to the vehicle’s design. But now Volvo is developing a car which deals with the problem using its whole body to act as a rechargeable battery. The futuristic car would be able to store braking energy while it was being driven and also store energy when it was plugged in overnight to recharge. The three-year project to develop the vehicle was launched earlier this year between Volvo, Imperial College in London and seven other European institutes. Imperial College is working on a composite blend of carbon fibres and polymer resin is that can store and charge more energy faster than conventional batteries. The material is extremely strong and pliant, which means it can be shaped for use in building the car’s body panels. Volvo claims that the car’s weight could be cut by as much as 15 percent if steel body panels were replaced with the new material. Scientists are developing the composite material so it can store more energy and on studying ways of producing the material. More

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Wrexham to introduce energy-efficient street lights!

admin — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:43:01 +0000

A MAJOR plan to roll out energy efficient street light bulbs across a county saving thousands of pounds and cutting the carbon footprint was given the go-ahead yesterday. Wrexham County Borough Council yesterday approved a scheme to replace all 4,300 of its street lights with new energy efficient bulbs and dimmer switches. The Welsh Assembly Government has promised £280,000 towards the scheme, priced at £336,000, with the council contributing £36,000 and Offa Community Council £20,000. Other community councils across Wrexham are also chipping in money from their own coffers to secure the technology for their wards. The new initiative was passed as local authorities face stiff carbon reduction targets. The use of new energy efficient street lighting bulbs is seen as a way of bringing down the costs and curbing pollution. Talks were held with local community councils in Wrexham to see which ones wanted to contribute money to the scheme. The replacement bulbs should not compromise light quality. At certain times of the night, when there is very little pedestrian or road activity, they can be dimmed which will save further cash. More

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Converted car runs on human waste!

admin — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 21:10:18 +0000

The Bio-Bug has been converted by a team of British engineers to be powered by biogas, which is produced from human waste at sewage works across the country. They believe the car is a viable alternative to electric vehicles. Related Articles Bio bug and all that Police to get new device to trap drug drivers Bio-Bug: Car run on human waste is launched Motorways face midnight darkness The 367mph bus Diesel car sales overtake petrol Excrement flushed down the lavatories of just 70 homes is enough to power the car for 10,000 miles – the equivalent of one average motoring year. This conversion technology has been used in the past but the Bio-Bug is Britain’s first car to run on methane gas without its performance being reduced. It can power a conventional two litre VW Beetle convertible to 114mph. Mohammed Saddiq, of sustainable energy firm GENeco, which developed the prototype, claimed that drivers “won’t know the difference”. He said: “Previously the gas hasn’t been clean enough to fuel motor vehicles without it affecting performance. “However, through using the latest technology our Bio-Bug drives like any conventional car and what’s more it uses sustainable fuel. “If you were to drive the car you wouldn’t know it was powered by biogas as it performs just like any conventional car. It is probably the most sustainable car around.” The Bio-Bug is a conventional 2 litre VW Beetle convertible, which has been modified to run on both conventional fuel and compressed methane gas. The car is started using unleaded petrol but automatically switches to methane when the engine is “up to temperature”. If the methane tank runs out the Bio-Bug reverts back to petrol. More

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EU wants driving tests to be more eco-friendly!

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:24:41 +0000

Learner drivers could fail their driving test if they pose a threat to the planet, under proposals being draw up by the European Commission. Braking suddenly, revving the engine or wasting fuel by being too heavy on the accelerator pedal could prove costly. This is because Brussels wants to include “eco-driving” – cutting carbon emissions at the wheel – in the practical driving test. The plans, which could consign “boy racer” drivers to history, were unveiled earlier this week by Siim Kallas, the EU’s Transport Commissioner as part of a comprehensive road safety strategy for the next decade. It would be achieved by widening the current EU Driving Licence Directive, which is binding on all member states. In Britain “eco-driving” has been included in the written test since September 2008. But making it part of the practical examination would mean that learner drivers would not only have to be safe drivers but also “clean” ones as well. More

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More motorways turn street lights lights out!

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:45:54 +0000

The lights will be turned out on a section of the M6 in Lancashire for the first time tonight, in a bid to cut down on carbon emissions and light pollution. Lighting will be turned off between junctions 27 and 29 – Standish and Lostock Hall – every night from midnight until 5am, though the Highways Agency stresses that junctions themselves and the approach to them will continue to be lit. A similar move took place between junctions 21 and 22 of the M4 near Bristol, and junctions 29 and 30 of the M5 near Exeter in March last year. Billed as the first phase in the Highways Agency’s Efficiency Strategy for Road Lighting, the body said that such schemes would only be put into place on sections which experienced low levels of traffic and good safety records. Motorway lighting switch-offs have also taken place in Kent, Berkshire and Hampshire. More

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Government to give low carbon car clubs given £40K boost!

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:27:14 +0000

Car clubs are set to benefit from an extra £40,000 of Government funding, Transport Minister Norman Baker announced today. The money will be used to support car club development in the UK. Membership of car clubs allows access to low carbon vehicles for short periods of time, often by the hour, on a pay-as-you-go basis. The clubs have increased massively in popularity with the number of members increasing from just 22,000 in 2007 to more than 127,114 members to date. The Government views such schemes as an effective way of tackling congestion, reducing the level of CO2 emissions and improving the quality of life of citizens and communities. Members tend to choose to travel fewer miles by car compared to private car owners and the vehicles they do drive are more efficient. Transport Minister Norman Baker said: “The Coalition Government, in its programme for government, has been clear in its commitment to sustainable travel initiatives such as car clubs to help achieve a greener and more sustainable transport sector. “The figures speak for themselves – each car club vehicle can result in taking 24 private vehicles off the road and the low carbon vehicles used typically emit approx 33% less CO2 than the average car. This is why we are supporting the continued growth of car clubs across the country.” More

Speed bumps made from recycled tyres!

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:16:01 +0000

Rubber speed humps made out of recycled car tyres have been laid on the streets of Leicestershire. The low cost, eco-friendly solution to speed management in the county has saved taxpayers some £15,000 off normal construction costs while reducing the carbon footprint of the region – by being more energy efficient to produce than traditional speed humps. Leicestershire County Council said the new humps will be rolled out at suitable sites across the county following their introduction in Birstall. More

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New hydrogen powered car to take to streets of Leicester!

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 22:19:05 +0000

REVOLUTIONARY new hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars could be taking to the streets of Leicester thanks to a ground-breaking deal between the city council and a manufacturer of sustainable cars. Leicester City Council has signed a memorandum of understanding to work with Riversimple – a firm specialising in designing and building environmentally-friendly vehicles – which intends to bring 30 of the ultra-efficient cars to the city. The project, which will be the first of its kind in the UK, will see the council and Riversimple work together on a 12-month pilot scheme in which private residents and organisations will be able to test-drive the vehicles. The pilot scheme, which is expected to be up and running by spring 2012, will also involve Leicester University and De Montfort University, and will also work on a suitable location for a filling station to power the cars. The prototype of the car, which was built at the Silverstone racing circuit, was launched at an event in the grounds of Leicester’s De Montfort Hall on Thursday, June 10. The city council’s cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Councillor Abdul Osman, signed the memorandum of understanding between the council and Riversimple at the event. If the pilot is a success, Leicester and Riversimple will also discuss the potential of Leicester being the site for a factory producing 5,000 cars a year. Another pilot scheme is also planned for elsewhere in the UK. Leicester City Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Councillor Abdul Osman, added: “This is great news for Leicester, and confirms the city’s status as leading the way in environmental terms. More

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New futuristic half-car half-scooter electric-powered vehicle!

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:13:53 +0000

Car giant Nissan has designed a groundbreaking new vehicle for the future which is half-car and half-scooter. The electric-powered Land Glider has four wheels but is little more than half the width of a family car and is designed with busy city streets in mind. The agile two-seater, which has a glider-like cabin, leans into corners and has a top speed of 62mph. A computer in the Land Glider takes into account speed and steering angle before automatically calculating the amount of lean required to corner. The vehicle is also equipped with a special crash avoidance system which uses sensors mounted in the body to detect other vehicles. The system then directs the Land Glider, which is described as a ‘personal city commuter’, away from obstacles. Nissan likens the system to the way ‘fish swim in schools without colliding’. A spokesman said: ‘Targeted at city dwellers of all generations, the Land Glider is a serious motoring statement of the new era of mobility that Nissan intends to lead. More

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Average new car CO2 emissions fall under 150 g/km CO2!

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:11:37 +0000

Average new car CO2 emissions fell by their biggest ever margin last year, with the average new car sold in the UK in 2009 emitting just 149.5g/km of CO2. At the same time, Fiat has posted Europe’s lowest volume weighted CO2 emissions. The UK CO2 emissions are 5.4% down on the 2008 figure and 21.2% better than the 1997 base level. The rate of reduction was the best on record, three times the average rate achieved since data was first measured in 1997. According to the annual New Car CO2 Report released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the impact of recession and the Scrappage Incentive Scheme has boosted the continued influence of technological advances made by vehicle manufacturers. Reductions in average emissions were made across all model segments with MPVs (-28.6%) and 4x4s (-27.4%) making the biggest improvement against their 1997 base levels. Minis and specialist sports cars made the biggest reduction over the past year falling 6.7% and 6.3% respectively on 2008 figures. 2009 saw the 12th successive annual drop in average new car CO2 emissions, with extra improvement helped by the recession and the Scrappage Incentive Scheme which steered buyers towards more fuel-efficient models. The average car bought under the scheme emitted just 133.3g/km, 26.8% less CO2 than the average scrapped car. More

Ferrari unveil electric hybrid 599 sports car!

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:39:15 +0000

For decades, Ferrari has made its name selling the sort of testosterone-packed cars that get petrolheads hot under the collar. But now the Italian car-maker is ditching its famous red livery – temporarily at least – as it experiments with going green. The company yesterday unveiled the Ferrari 599, a 200mph electric hybrid vehicle that aims to cut pollution and fuel consumption while retaining the brand’s breathtaking acceleration and performance. But it remains to be seen whether the 599′s ability to start silently and run on a zero-emission electric motor will put off car enthusiasts who delight in the explosive roar of an old-style Ferrari firing up. The prototype’s appearance at the opening day of the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland stunned visitors. The hybrid vehicle – which uses the electric motor to back up a more traditional 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine – even sported a bright metallic green paint to reinforce its environmentally friendly credentials. The aim is to have the green technology as an option across Ferrari’s entire range of cars by 2015. More

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Calls for L tests to include more ‘Green’ driving!

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:45:50 +0000

Learner drivers should be examined on ‘green’, smoother driving techniques as part of the standard driving test, according to a business group. The CBI says that each motorist could make fuel savings of 5-10% through efficient driving practices, reducing carbon emissions and saving up to £250 a year. And the group argues in its Tackling Climate Change Closer to Home report that the “smarter” skills needed to make such savings should be a mandatory part of the driving test. Although it does not provide a detailed outline, the CBI suggests that eco-driving “is about driving in a style suited to modern engine technology”. It claims that changing gears more smoothly and avoiding sharp braking and acceleration can cut fuel consumption by up to a third. Other proposals made in the report – which has the stated aim to “pave the way for low-carbon cars and homes” – include an agreement between the Government and manufacturers for long-term carbon dioxide (CO2) limits, and moves to encourage the sustainability and development of biofuels. And despite praising the Government’s forthcoming £5,000 purchase subsidy for ultra-low emissions vehicles, the CBI says that even more can be done to stimulate the take-up of low-carbon cars, including using tax from higher-polluting vehicles to incentivise consumers looking for more efficient options. Peter Rodger, chief examiner at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, told Admiral News that the main aspects of eco-driving – looking ahead and planning early – are already part of general good driving practice. More

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Government grants of upto £5,000 offered for electric cars!

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:43:07 +0000

Pioneering motorists will receive up to £5,000 to buy an ultra-low carbon car, and the roll-out of supporting infrastructure will begin in selected regions, the Government announced today. The Plug-in Car Grant will be distributed directly to the consumer at the point of purchase and will be available across the UK from January 2011, by which time a range of eligible vehicles is expected to be available. Also included in the Government’s plans is the roll-out of a £30m fund for a network of electric vehicle hubs – called Plugged-In Places – which will see charging infrastructure appearing in car parks, major supermarkets, leisure and retail centres, as well as on the street. The first Plugged-In Places were today named today as London, Milton Keynes and the North East; and between them they will be installing over 11,000 vehicle recharging points during the next three years. The initiatives are part of a £450 million Government strategy to support the creation of a flourishing early market for ultra-low carbon vehicles. The programme will help to meet the UK’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions from transport; as well as creating new business opportunities for UK-based companies in the automotive and charging infrastructure sectors. Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis said: “Decarbonising transport isn’t an aspiration – it’s a reality. By this time next year, cutting edge motorists will be on the roads with these next generation cars they’ve purchased because of our help. “And thanks to the Plugged-In Places we will have in place infrastructure to support this growing early market. “Transport has a huge part to play in helping the UK meet its stringent emission reduction targets and today’s announcement is another step on the road to putting the UK at the global forefront of ultra-low carbon vehicle development, manufacture and use.” More

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M4 to become a new ‘Hydrogen Highway’ its revealed!

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:36:17 +0000

The government has today announced its latest Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA), unveiling plans to establish Wales as a major hub for the development of alternative fuel technologies and build so-called “hydrogen highway” along the M4 that will provide refueling infrastructure for zero emission vehicles. The award of the LCEA status is intended to establish Wales as the lead area in the UK for the development of alternative fuels and was kick started by the announcement that 15 hydrogen demonstration projects have been awarded a share of £7.2m from the Technology Strategy Board. In addition to new funding, the LCEA will also aim to bring together all the necessary infrastructure, skills development and incentive programmes necessary to accelerate the development of alternative fuel technologies in the region. An industry-led steering group will now begin work on driving specific projects forward, and the Welsh Assembly said that talks were already underway with carmakers, fleet and bus operators to encourage them to locate new R&D projects and vehicle trials in Wales. “Hydrogen presents exciting opportunities for low carbon energy and we want the UK to be at the forefront,” said Business Secretary Lord Mandelson. The Government is committed to encouraging and supporting growth through our low carbon industries, skills base and supply chain. That’s why we’re creating this Low Carbon Economic Area for hydrogen energy led by South Wales in close collaboration with the South West.” The new LCEA status has also been backed by the announcement of a flagship project to extend refueling infrastructure along the M4 corridor. Under the proposals, backed by a £500,000 government grant, electric car plug in facilities and hydrogen, compressed natural gas and bio methane refueling points will initially be installed along the Welsh section of the M4. More

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San Francisco getting reading to be America’s green capital!

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:55:18 +0000

All new buildings to be wired with chargers ahead of release of new vehicle models marketed to middle-class families. San Francisco has adopted building codes requiring all new homes and offices to be wired for electric car chargers, in an attempt to position itself as America’s green car capital. The move comes in advance of the release this year of the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt, which promise to deliver driving distances of 40 miles or more on a single battery charge and are being marketed to middle-class families. Local authorities are launching a lending scheme next month to encourage homeowners to install their own charging stations. “If you want to put an electric charging station in your home in anticipation of all these electric vehicles, you can do it through this green financing programme,” said San Francisco’s mayor, Gavin Newsom. Newsom bought his own electric car a decade ago, and car charging stations were installed outside city hall last year. The move further solidifies California’s reputation as America’s greenest state. Over the past 30 years it has led the country in putting limits on vehicle emissions, and imposing higher efficiency standards for homes and appliances such as flatscreen TVs. Few people are predicting widespread adoption of electric cars by Americans – at least in the immediate future. But the launch of the electric vehicles is also concentrating minds in other cities, such as Houston, San Diego and Portland, Oregon, which are expected to lead demand for the new technology. More

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Proposals to have average speed cameras on all our motorways!

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:18:46 +0000

Average speed cameras could be fitted on all of Britain’s motorways if new proposals to slash carbon emissions are approved by the Government. The devices lead to fewer accidents and speeding tickets on the roads where they are installed than normal speed cameras, a new report by the Government’s environmental advisers claims. The Sustainable Development Commission is calling for cameras to be installed on all motorways in the UK because it is predicted that if all drivers stuck to 70mph, the UK’s carbon emissions would be cut by 1.4 million tonnes. In its report the Commission says drivers slam on the brakes when they see a speed camera and accelerate away as soon as they have passed it. More

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Fuel cell vehicles ‘further away’ than claimed!

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:41:30 +0000

The widespread use of zero-emission vehicles running on hydrogen fuel cells is further away than the car industry claims, a University of Oxford study has concluded. And the study’s authors say that, with the majority of cars likely to rely on the internal combustion engine until 2050, the best way to reduce emissions from personal transport would be through a “drastic downscaling” of vehicles’ size and weight. The study’s findings contrast with messages put forward by car makers. In September 2009, eight manufacturers including Toyota, Honda, Ford, GM and Renault/Nissan issued a joint letter of understanding, in which they stated: “[We] strongly anticipate that from 2015 onwards a quite significant number of fuel cell vehicles could be commercialised.” The signatories also called for a European network of hydrogen filling stations to be established by 2015, in preparation for such vehicles. However, research fellow Oliver Inderwildi, who leads the Future of Mobility project within Oxford University’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, told The Times that car makers needed “to be more honest” about the choices. “Their argument is that people can continue to drive 4X4s because in a couple of years they will be able to switch to a fuel cell 4X4. “We think that won’t happen and that we must instead reduce fuel consumption by going for lighter and smaller cars,” he said. More

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UK’s largest electric trial begins!

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:50:55 +0000

The UK’s largest electric car trial has begun in the West Midlands. The government’s Technology Strategy Board (TSB) has supplied £15 million to the project as part of its plans for electric cars to become commercially viable in the UK. The West Midlands’ trial taking place in Coventry and Birmingham is the largest of eight similar trials TSB is backing, with 110 electric cars being trialled in the area. Nationally, 340 cars will be tested. TSB ran its ‘Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator’ competition to find suitable areas to trial electric cars. Iain Gray, TSB’s chief executive, said: “We created the Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator competition to act as a catalyst for industry, the public sector and academia to collaborate to provide low emission vehicles and solutions to powering them. “The journey towards low carbon transport will not be easy, but the demonstrator programme is the biggest project of its kind to date and is a major step in the right direction.” The West Midlands’ trial brings together local organisations within the engineering, automotive manufacturing, academic, public and infrastructure sectors under the banner ‘Cabled’ (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Vehicle Demonstrators). More

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Dark roads will lead to brighter future says pollution commission!

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:22:53 +0000

Street and motorway lights should be dimmed or switched off to save energy and let people see the stars, the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution says. It says there is little evidence that such lighting significantly cuts accidents or crime. It recommends the removal of thousands of motorway lights, possibly even at junctions. Its report, Artificial Light in the Environment, also calls on councils to consider reducing street lighting. The report says that since 1993 most of the UK has become brighter, obscuring the stars, and it backs a recent paper in the scientific journal Nature that said: “Without a direct view of the stars, mankind is cut off from most of the Universe, deprived of any direct sense of its huge scale and our tiny place in it.” The commission proposes “dark- sky parks” all over Britain, with planning restrictions on outdoor lighting. The Galloway Forest Park in southern Scotland this month became Britain’s first official dark-sky park, with 7,000 stars visible there, compared with 500 in Glasgow. More

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Air to power dashboard instruments!

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:09:15 +0000

They are developing and improving the efficiency of inch-long devices that can harness the energy of motion and convert it into electricity. Known as piezoelectrics, the devices can be mounted on a car roof or aircraft fuselage. Although unable to power engines, they could drive electrical systems for dashboard or cockpit instruments. Air flowing around a moving vehicle causes internal vibrations that would produce an output voltage. The devices are being developed by a City College of New York team headed by Professor Yiannis Andreopoulos. He said: “These devices open the possibility to continuously scavenge otherwise wasted energy from the environment.” More

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£30m government funding for electric car charging points!

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:08:32 +0000

The UK’s streets and car parks could see thousands more charging points for electric and plug-in hybrid cars thanks to £30 million of Government funding. Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis today invited cities and businesses to join together to bid for the money which will help fund the installation of charging points on streets, car parks and in commercial, retail and leisure facilities. This initiative – called Plugged-In Places – will support the development of between three and six electric car cities and regions across the UK which will act as trailblazers for electric car technology. The experiences of these locations will inform the future development of a national charging infrastructure. Overall, the Government is investing around £400m to encourage the development, manufacture and use of next generation ultra-low carbon vehicles. Delivered by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles this support is being targeted to create new jobs in a low carbon automotive sector and to cut carbon from UK road transport. More

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New report says electric cars to increase CO2 emissions!

admin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:34:07 +0000

Electric cars may not reduce carbon dioxide emissions – and could even increase them, a green lobby group warned yesterday. The Environmental Transport Association said generating electricity – by burning coal and oil – to charge the so-called ‘clean’ cars could cancel out the benefit of abandoning fossil fuel vehicles. Its report said hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius could be the ‘greenest’ as they do not rely on mains power to charge batteries. It added that if electric cars become widely used, they would need a meter on the dashboard to charge motorists as they drive. The report represents a potential blow to Gordon Brown’s stated dream of making Britain ‘the electric car capital of Europe’. More

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Used cars to get fuel economy labels!

admin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:20:45 +0000

Used cars are to get their own fuel economy labels showing miles per gallon, carbon emissions and estimated fuel costs over 12,000 miles. The project follows a voluntary labelling scheme for new cars, introduced in 2005, and has already begun at some dealerships. With used cars outselling their new counterparts by more than four to one, even the idea’s proponents admit it will be a tall order to get all used cars labelled, but so far more than 2,000 dealers – both independents and major franchisees – have signed up. Launching the scheme this week, Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership managing director Greg Archer said research by the Automobile Association reveals that used car buyers place fuel economy fourth on their list of priorities, behind price, practicality and reliability. More

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Trolley Buses to make a return!

admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:03:19 +0000

Leeds city council is to submit proposals to the Department for Transport for a 14-mile network, costing nearly £280 million, which would see a new generation of vehicles being introduced in the city in 2015. The first trolleybus is believed to be that which ran in Berlin in 1882. They arrived in Britain in 1909, when a trial was held in Hendon and first entered public service in Leeds and Bradford two years later. For much of the 20th century they were a common feature of the British urban landscape, although by the 1960s many trolleybuses had disappeared. They were last seen in Bradford in March 1972. They were phased out because conventional buses were seen as more flexible. Like trams, trolleybuses are powered by overhead electric cables. But while trams run on tracks, trolleybuses use the road alongside other vehicles. More

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The green car tax blitz: £3,300 levy on new vehicles!

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:41:52 +0000

Motorists face a huge increase in fuel duty and a £3,300 levy on new cars under plans that could see families’ green tax burden soar. A report unveiled today by experts including the Government’s environment tsar will urge £150 billion in taxes on households and businesses. Petrol could cost £2 a litre by 2020, while a tax on new cars that would start at £300 would rise by £3,000 over the next 11 years. The blitz is essential if Britain is to meet its target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by a third by that time, according to the influential think-tank behind the proposals. But critics said drivers were already over-taxed and were being used as “cash cows”. The report is from the Green Fiscal Commission, which includes the Government’s top environmental adviser, Lord Turner, as well as Tory and LibDem politicians and Environment Agency chairman Chris Smith. Green taxes already make up 7 per cent of the Government’s tax take. But the GFC says moves towards green energy and energy efficiency will not be enough for Britain to meet its target, and the evidence that green taxes help the environment is ‘overwhelming’. It adds that although such taxes are widely seen as unfair, the proposed increases should be offset by cuts in income tax and national insurance contributions. More

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Electric Mini runs for 1p per mile!

admin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:58:32 +0000

An electric Mini that will run for as little as 1p a mile hit the streets yesterday – with batteries included. A trial fleet of pollution-free Mini Es was launched as the car-maker also announced a deal for public electricity charging points with Marks & Spencer. The plug-in Mini can manage up to 150 miles on an off-peak £1.50 battery charge, giving drivers an astonishing 1p-a-mile motoring. Twenty guinea-pig drivers in the South East will use the cars for six months on a £330-a-month leasing deal, with home chargers installed in their garages. Each must commit to doing at least 300 miles driving a month and have their motoring and charging habits monitored. Smart meters will also track charging and usage patterns to help power firms and Mini plan for the future. Twenty more will run on the car fleets of Oxford city and Oxfordshire county councils. Each car can fully charge in around four and a half hours for as little as £1.50 if juiced up overnight at off-peak rates, or £4 at peak time. On a full charge it has a range of around 100 miles, but that can increase to 150 in ideal conditions. Yet few are prepared for the blistering performance – like a supercharged but silent electric go-kart – that sees the electric Mini sprint from 0 to 62mph in just 8.5 seconds. There are only two pedals – the accelerator and the brake – and just one continuously variable gear. Only the slight whirr of the electric motor gives away the game that this is no ordinary Mini.More

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Electric cars at heart of new transport policy!

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:05:15 +0000

The roads of the 2020′s could look and sound very different if the climate change committee’s vision of transport policy is realised. Electric cars will zip noiselessly along roads depleted of commuters by better planning and more effective public transport. Those who do still drive old-fashioned fossil-fuelled cars will use their right feet less. Needless braking and accelerating will have been eliminated by eco-driving lessons, and fleets of vehicles, stripped of excess weight, will glide along motorways at a legal and fuel-efficient 70 mph. Today’s report says: “Transport is currently responsible for a quarter of emissions in the UK and, if left unchecked, emissions will rise significantly by 2020. Dramatic improvements in the carbon efficiency of cars need to be combined with measures which will constrain growth in traffic volumes.” More

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Network of car charging points unveiled!

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:56:12 +0000

The plans, drawn up by the Energy Technologies Institute would make it easier drivers to use their cars over extended distances. Already the Government has allocated £250 million to a scheme to promote carbon-friendly electric motoring. It is envisaged that as many as 50,000 electric and plug-in hybrid cars could be on Britain’s roads by the middle of the next decade. A trial is already under way in which 100 cars are being tested by members of the public. More

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Traffic calming is now bad for environment!

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:33:43 +0000

Edmund King, the motoring organisation’s president, has also voiced fears that the growth of 20 mph zones could be environmentally damaging even if they do promote road safety. According to Mr King, there is an environmental cost with carbon emissions likely to be higher at lower speeds because cars are normally driven in a lower gear, and higher revs pump out more emissions as the engine works harder. According to Mr King, some of the 20 mph zones have been introduced without any real thought being given to their impact on CO 2 and pollution. More

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More 20 mph zones planned!

York gets ready for car-free day!

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:21:29 +0000

Motorists in York are being urged to switch to cheaper and alternative ways of getting around than by car. A car-free day will be organised next month by the City of York Council and local businesses to reduce the traffic congestion on York roads and highlight healthier modes of transport such as cycling and walking. Those registering in advance will get free travel on First and Transdev buses. Damon Copperthwaite, assistant director for City development and Transport for City of York Council, said: “York Car Free Day is about encouraging people who would usually drive into the city to try cycling, using buses or walking for the day. “The idea is to show motorists that there are cheaper, easier and more environmentally friendly and healthier alternatives to using the car.” More

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GM says their new car has economy of 230 MPG!

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:42:07 +0000

General Motors announced Tuesday that its forthcoming electric vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt, will get fuel economy of 230 miles per gallon in city driving, an achievement that both accelerates and befogs the industry’s race to produce more efficient cars. The Volt will become the first mass-produced vehicle to obtain a triple-digit mpg rating, the company said, and some industry analysts agreed that the car may put the company a step ahead of competitors building plug-in hybrids. “The GM vehicle is the best one in the country based on what we’ve seen,” said Don Hillebrand, director of transportation research at the Energy Department’s Argonne National Laboratory, the nation’s leading lab for plug-in vehicles. “But it’s hard to tell — other companies could be keeping theirs secret.” Indeed, most of the major automakers are clamoring to become known as the “greenest” of all. GM has already begun an advertising campaign for the Volt based around a logo that forms a “230″ using a 2, a 3 and a round electrical outlet. Company officials hope the car, scheduled for late next year, will come to symbolize the “new GM” formed after bankruptcy and a federal bailout. But the company’s focus on a miles-per-gallon standard also highlights the ongoing confusion over how to measure the energy efficiency of cars that run on both gas and electricity. More

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