Europe’s political patchwork is getting a low-emission zone overlap, according to Malcolm Kent*
By now, pretty much everybody in the industry will be aware of the Low Emission Zone in London, UK. But awareness of similar European zones about to start or expand might be more patchy.
The background to all of these schemes is the problem of air quality, particularly European Union rules setting limits on acceptable pollution levels. It was found some years ago that several member states’ cities, including
In Turkey a man has received widespread acclaim for his bravery. A fuel tanker caught fire at a filling station and the man initially tried to stem the flames but when he realised his efforts were fruitless, and as others ran for safety, the man jumped into the cab and drove the burning truck away. Flames shot from the rear of the truck as he drove it to a safe distance from the filling station, located in izmir province.
New advances in electric motor development could lead to more efficient electric vehicles being developed. Japan’s Tohoku University has been working on switched reluctance motors that feature an axial gap design and do not require permanent magnets. These can deliver the same torque as motors featuring permanent magnets however, a key point as the cost of the rare earths needed in permanent magnets has increased. Meanwhile Nissan said that sales of its Leaf model are now growing, with 46,000 having been bo
Critics of Europe’s push towards biofuels are pointing out that the strategy is boosting the cost of foodstuffs around the world. The combination of drought and high grain prices are fuelling a growing clamour within Europe that is criticising the policy on boosting biofuel use. This comes on top of strong evidence that biofuel use does not reduce carbon dioxide emissions and may in fact be counter-productive. The claims are nothing new. A World Health Organisation (WHO) report strongly criticised the move
