Transportation News

Elevated bamboo housing protects an Indian community from floods

Oct 17, 2019: The nonprofit SEEDS (Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society) teamed up with local organization NEADS (North-East Affected Area Development Society) to create 80 core houses that are resistant to flooding.

EEA reports poor air quality caused premature deaths of 400,000 Europeans in 2016

Oct 17, 2019: Coal-fired power plants, vehicle-clogged highways, and fossil-fuel spewing factories have contributed to the growing European air pollution dilemma. Industries, households and vehicles all emit dangerous mixtures of pollutant particulates that are harmful to human health. Indeed, the European Environment Agency (EEA) highlighted the issue when reporting that over 400,000 Europeans met their untimely demise in 2016 due to poor air quality standards that placed their health at risk. Air pollution...

Scotland bans plastic-stemmed cotton swabs in bid to combat plastic pollution

Oct 17, 2019: Following backlash concerning plastic waste buildup in beaches and oceans, Scotland is now the first country in the United Kingdom to officially ban the manufacture, supply and sale of plastic-stemmed cotton swabs.

Recycled botanical garden in Seattle brings visitors decades of joy

Oct 17, 2019: When Wendy Morgan accepted a friend’s invitation to go see Elda Behm’s garden in the 1990s, she had no idea she would become entangled in a project for the next 25 years. “Elda popped her head around the garage and that was the beginning of it,” Morgan says with a laugh. “She was a saleswoman.” The Port of Seattle was planning its third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Behm’s home and garden were in the way, so the port slated them for demolition. But Behm wasn’t giving...

Architects use simple, low-cost and efficient materials to create spectacular home with 'flying roof' in Chile

Oct 17, 2019: Located in a coastal area in Chile's Valparaíso region, the gorgeous home was built using prefabricated and modular materials, then topped with an eye-catching, origami-inspired metal roof.

Toyota to show production-ready ultra-compact BEV at 2019 Tokyo Motor Show; introducing new BEV business model

Oct 17, 2019: Toyota Motor will display its new, production-ready Ultra-compact BEV (battery electric vehicle) at the FUTURE EXPO special exhibition of the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show ahead of the vehicle’s planned commercial launch in Japan in 2020. The next-generation mobility solution is designed to provide short-distance mobility while limiting impact on the...

UQ study highlights ESG challenges for critical metals supplies

Oct 17, 2019: In a new study published in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology, University of Queensland researchers have highlighted the effects environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks will have on the global supply of metals without major innovations in the mining industry. Research on metal criticality has predominately assessed the supply risk...

Audi introduces A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro plug-in hybrid

Oct 17, 2019: Audi is introducing a plug-in hybrid version of its A8 L luxury sedan. The combination of plug-in hybrid drive and intelligent drive management allows distances of up to 46 kilometers (28.6 mi) (measured in accordance with WLTP) to be covered with electric drive alone. System power of 330 kW (449...

Velocys’ Bayou Fuels project set to produce negative emission fuels; partnering with Oxy

Oct 17, 2019: Velocys, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Velocys plc, signed an agreement with Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, LLC (OLCV), to capture CO2 from Velocys’ planned Bayou Fuels biomass-to-fuels project in Natchez, Mississippi, and securely store it underground in a geologic formation. OLCV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental, will take,...

Volvo Cars launches Volvo XC40 Recharge EV as first of new Recharge line; new climate plan

Oct 17, 2019: Volvo Cars introduced the XC40 Recharge, the company’s first fully electric car and the first model to appear in its brand new Recharge car line concept. The XC40 Recharge, based on the multi-award-winning and best-selling XC40 small SUV, is the first of a family of fully electric Volvos. The EV...

New Flyer supports San Francisco launch of emission-reducing Green Zones; geofencing for EV mode

Oct 17, 2019: New Flyer of America Inc. has successfully met and supported the launch of the San Francisco Green Zone requirement, using New Flyer Connect to execute GPS-triggered (geofencing) functionality with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and BAE Systems PLC (BAE). Green Zones support San Francisco’s approach to greenhouse gas...

Dependable Supply Chain Services deploys Orange EV electric trucks as step towards zero-emission freight facility

Oct 17, 2019: Orange EV and Dependable Supply Chain Services announced the deployment of Orange EV pure electric terminal trucks (aka yard trucks, hostlers, spotters) as the first step in fulfilling the Dependable Highway Express (DHE) plan to transform its Ontario, California facility into a sustainable, energy-efficient, emission-free freight terminal. Launching their transition...

Borealis and Neste begin strategic co-operation for production of renewable polypropylene

Oct 17, 2019: Borealis, a leading provider of innovative polyolefin solutions; and Neste, the world’s leading provider of renewable diesel, renewable jet fuel, and an expert in delivering drop-in renewable chemical solutions, are entering into strategic co-operation for the production of renewable polypropylene (PP). The co-operation will enable Borealis to start using Neste’s...

A hotel suite inside a shipping container hovers over the landscape in Brazil

Oct 16, 2019: Brazilian architecture firm Bruno Zaitter arquiteto has once again given new life to a shipping container with the Bosque Refuge, one of the Hotel Fazenda Cainã suites in Balsa Nova, Brazil.

EIT Food Marketplace disrupts the industry with additive-free beverages, veggie milk and more

Oct 16, 2019: The future of food appears to emphasize clean, sustainable eating that boosts personal and planetary health.

First-of-its-kind device prototype harnesses renewable energy from ocean waves

Oct 16, 2019: With today’s renewables market rapidly expanding, it’s no wonder then that wave energy has recently gained traction as a contemporary energy source.

Self-sustainable childrens center in Tanzania harvests water like a baobab tree

Oct 16, 2019: In northern Tanzania, a Swedish team of architects, engineers, and a non-profit collaborated with local workers to complete the Econef Children’s Center, a self-sustaining facility for orphans in the King’ori village. Asante Architecture & Design, Lönnqvist & Vanamo Architects, Architects Without Borders Sweden, Engineers Without Borders Sweden, and Swedish-Tanzanian NGO ECONOF created the center to provide sleeping quarters and classrooms to orphaned children, as well as to also increase...

Artist unveils furniture collection for insects

Oct 16, 2019: As the world's insect population plummets, it is becoming more and more important to create insect-friendly habitats. Now, you can have one right in your own backyard!

Solid-electrolyte-based liquid Li-S and Li-Se batteries can deliver up to 500 Wh/kg

Oct 16, 2019: Researchers at Zhengzhou University, Tsinghua University and Stanford University have developed a solid-electrolyte-based liquid Li-S and Li-Se (SELL-S and SELL-Se, respectively) battery system with the potential to deliver energy densities exceeding 500 Wh kg-1 and and 1,000 Wh L-1, together with the ability of low-cost and stable electrochemical performance for...

European Commission opens investigation into proposed public support for Samsung SDI battery plant in Hungary

Oct 16, 2019: The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether Hungary's plans to grant €108 million of public support to Samsung SDI for investing in the expansion of its battery cell production facility in Göd (Hungary) is in line with EU rules on regional State aid. Public investment is...

EPA issues supplemental proposal for renewable fuels volumes

Oct 16, 2019: On Tuesday, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking seeking additional comment on the recently proposed rule to establish the cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel volumes for 2020 and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2021 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)...

Navigant Research finds public charger deployments are encouraging plug-in EV adoption

Oct 16, 2019: According to a new report from Navigant Research, although the business model is in question, analyses indicate public charger deployments are positively affecting PEV adoption. The report analyzes the relationship between public charger deployment and plug-in EV (PEV) demand, providing an overview of upcoming industry innovations and ways industry stakeholders...

Researchers design a solution for traffic management that helps reduce jams and pollution in cities

Oct 16, 2019: A team of researchers from the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and the Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse III (France) have developed a system that is capable of managing the entire traffic of a city, which will help to prevent traffic jams, while reducing the driving times of vehicles and pollution levels....

XL acquires Quantum Fuel’s electrification division, appoints Kazarinoff as CEO

Oct 16, 2019: XL, a growing provider of vehicle electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets, made two significant announcements designed to capitalize on the company’s current momentum and position the business for rapid, sustainable growth in 2020 and beyond. First, on 4 October, XL acquired the electrification division of Quantum Fuel Systems,...

Karma Automotive’s flagship store now accepts Bitcoin as form of payment

Oct 16, 2019: Karma Automotive, the Southern California-based creator of luxury electric vehicles and high-tech incubator, is using its flagship company-owned store in Newport Beach, Calif., to help further its shareholder’s expertise in blockchain technology by accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment. Karma Newport Beach now accepts Bitcoin as a form of...

Study shows a much cheaper catalyst can generate hydrogen in a commercial electrolyzer

Oct 16, 2019: Researchers at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University have shown for the first time that a low-cost, non-precious metal cobalt phosphide (CoP) catalyst catalyst can split water and generate hydrogen gas for hours on end in the harsh environment of a commercial device. The electrolyzer...

Stefano Boeri will revitalize Genoa with sustainable energy-producing urban design

Oct 15, 2019: A Stefano Boeri Architetti-led design team has won a competition to design a new urban project to transform the Polcevera valley in Genoa, Italy into a beacon of sustainability. Titled “The Polcevera Park and The Red Circle,” the urban regeneration scheme will include a series of parks beneath the new Renzo Piano-designed bridge that will replace the Morandi Bridge that collapsed on August 14, 2018—a tragedy that killed 43 people. In addition to revitalizing the area and memorializing the recent...

Renewable energy surpasses fossil fuels in the UK

Oct 15, 2019: In a first for the United Kingdom, wind turbines, solar panels and other renewable energy sources have generated more electricity than their fossil fuel counterparts of coal and natural gas.

Golden State bans hotel mini-toiletries in effort to minimize waste

Oct 15, 2019: To reduce the impact of plastic waste pollution, California banned hotel and lodging use and distribution of travel-size plastic toiletries. No longer will miniature personal care products like shampoos, conditioners and liquid bath soaps be part of the amenities package. The proliferation of single-use plastics has devastated the environment, overwhelming landfills. To minimize single-use plastic’s footprint, the Golden State shall phase out toiletry bottles from all lodging accommodations...

How to see these six fascinating animals in the wild while aiding in their conservation

Oct 15, 2019: If you’re going to travel, travel responsibly. The best way to show these animals that you love them is by respecting their habitats and aiding in the conservation of their species. Here’s how to ethically view six animals in their natural habitats in ways that benefit them rather than disturb them. Sharks on Viti Levu, Fiji There are hundreds of different species of sharks who call earth’s waters home, and a trip to Fiji will give you the chance to see at least eight of them in...

Old bus is converted into a mobile greenhouse to teach students about sustainable eating habits

Oct 15, 2019: Parents in New Jersey are rejoicing thanks to a refurbished bus that is on a mission to educate young students on a variety of food education issues, from better eating habits to urban gardening.

Motiv Power Systems secures $60M to scale EPIC all-electric chassis, establish Detroit operations

Oct 15, 2019: Motiv Power Systems, a provider of all-electric medium-duty chassis for buses and trucks, has secured $60 million in equity funding. The Series B round of investment was led by investors GMAG Holdings Corp. and Winnebago. These funds will support the overall growth of Motiv, including opening a new engineering and...

Relationship between distance driven and economic activity: 1946-2017

Oct 15, 2019: by Michael Sivak. This is the latest in my series of analyses on the relationship between road transportation and economic activity in the United States. Of interest in this study were the changes in distance driven per inflation-adjusted GDP (gross domestic product) since the end of the Second World War....

PNNL team pinpoints cause of dendrites and whiskers in lithium batteries; ethylene carbonate a culprit

Oct 15, 2019: Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have uncovered a root cause of the growth of dendrites and whiskers that plague lithium batteries, sometimes causing a short circuit, failure, or even a fire. The team, led by Chongmin Wang, has shown that the presence of certain compounds in the electrolyte...

US Army, GM collaborate to improve automotive cybersecurity

Oct 15, 2019: The US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) and General Motors announced a new cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) which aims to strengthen GM’s and the Army’s automotive cybersecurity expertise over the next two years. This marks the first automotive cybersecurity partnership of its...

Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus announces partners for first series-produced electric truck: 14t e-Delivery

Oct 15, 2019: Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus (VWCO) announced its partners for its first mass-produced electric truck: the 14-tonne e-Delivery. Partners are Bosch, CATL, Moura, Semcon, Siemens, Weg, Meritor and Eletra. All are part of the e-Consortium in VWCO’s development and production complex in Resende (RJ). VWCO announced the formation of the e-Consortium...

Groupe Renault starts public trial of its on-demand car service using autonomous, electric and shared ZOE Cab

Oct 15, 2019: From 14 October to 8 November 2019, throughout the Paris-Saclay urban campus, a panel of some 100 people will use Groupe Renault’s on-demand car service as part of the ‘Paris-Saclay Autonomous Lab’ project. The objective of this experiment is to test the technical aspects of this on-demand mobility service, and...

Buick launches VELITE 6 PLUS MAV EV with increased range of 410 km

Oct 15, 2019: Buick launched the VELITE 6 PLUS MAV (multi-activity vehicle) electric vehicle in China. The newest member of the VELITE 6 family, the VELITE 6 PLUS has a constant-speed range of up to 410 kilometers (255 miles) under New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) conditions on a single charge. This enables it...

Proterra introduces multi-dispenser charging solution for heavy-duty electric vehicle fleets

Oct 15, 2019: Electric bus manufacturer Proterra has introduced a multi-dispenser charging solution which enables Proterra charging systems to have multiple low-profile charging dispensers paired with a single Power Control System (PCS). With less hardware to purchase and less equipment to install, the multi-dispenser charging solution lowers the cost of infrastructure for customers....

Audi A6 allroad returns to the US in 2020 with 48V mild hybrid system

Oct 15, 2019: The Audi A6 allroad is making its US return in 2020 with a specially tuned adaptive air suspension and quattro with ultra technology. The 2020 A6 allroad is standard equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter TFSI engine and Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) technology that work in tandem to efficiently produce...

Designers made this pavilion out of upcycled paper waste

Oct 14, 2019: Originally created for the Copenhagen Art Fair to showcase a new sustainable method of design, the Paper Pavilion is made out of upcycled paper collected from the city itself. The art fair, in its fifth season, had a specific focus on pavilion designs that spotlighted sustainable construction, urbanization and recycling. The pavilion was created by PAN-PROJECTS, an architect firm based in Denmark run by two Japanese architects. PAN-PROJECTS wanted to combine sustainability with the appropriate...

Climate change is forcing major airports to future-proof against rising sea levels and floods

Oct 14, 2019: To mitigate against the risks of sea level rise and consequential flooding, many airports across the country and internationally have had to invest in protective countermeasures.

Celebrate the second International E-Waste Day

Oct 14, 2019: The day is meant to raise awareness for proper disposal of electrical equipment and electronic devices worldwide.

A striking new gateway to Copenhagen celebrates green transit and Danish design

Oct 14, 2019: Earlier this summer, Copenhagen officially opened Køge Nord Station, a stunning new transportation landmark that raises the bar for beautiful urban infrastructure.

Stunning green-roofed home in Poland is embedded into the idyllic landscape

Oct 14, 2019: Related: + Via…

Porsche introduces entry-level electric Taycan 4S; two battery sizes

Oct 14, 2019: Shortly following on the global debut of the electric Taycan in September, Porsche is presenting the third version of the electric sports car: the Taycan 4S. The new model is available with two battery sizes: the Performance battery (79.2 kWh) models with up to 390 kW (530 PS) or the...

Argonne team develops new electrolyte mixtures that stabilize silicon anodes during cycling; MESA

Oct 14, 2019: Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory have developed a new electrolyte mixture and a simple additive that stabilizes silicon anodes during cycling. An open-access paper on their work is published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. Based on these test results, we have every reason...

Argonne and University of Illinois to form Midwest Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Coalition

Oct 14, 2019: The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Grainger College of Engineering intend to form the Midwest Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Coalition to raise awareness of the potential for hydrogen and fuel cells to provide energy resilience and security, reduce emissions and foster...

Wärtsilä to install hybrid upgrades on two offshore supply vessels

Oct 14, 2019: The technology group Wärtsilä will engineer, supply, and install complete battery hybrid packages in two offshore supply vessels owned by the Norway-based operator Atlantic Offshore. The upgrading project will be carried out at the Fitjar shipyard in Norway. By converting the vessels to hybrid propulsion, the owners will benefit through...

Sunfire partners with Total on highly efficient hydrogen technology; E-CO2MET

Oct 14, 2019: Germany-based Sunfire has signed a cooperation agreement with the French energy major Total SA. Sunfire will provide a megawatt-scale high temperature electrolyzer for use in industrial environments as part of the E-CO2MET research and development project. The company will also be responsible for the integration at the site as well...