ETA Newsletter - 07/08/2009

New folding bicycle is true contortionist

Recent Royal College of Art graduate Dominic Hargreaves is gaining a reputation for his imaginative cycling-related designs. Following his award-winning ‘ultimate cycle lock’, Hargreaves’s most recent project is a full-size folding bicycle that may provide stiff competition for the ubiquitous Brompton. Read more

Government aims to replace all domestic flights with rail

A high-speed rail network will do away with the need for the need for domestic and short-haul flights according to the transport secretary. Lord Adonis said that it was “manifestly in the public interest” for the 46 million passengers who take a domestic flight in Britain each year to switch to a 250mph north-south rail line of the future. Read more

Your car repair bills paid

Car warranties are a way of protecting against unexpected car bills, but they have a reputation for not paying out when needed. The ETA has formulated its own policy which pays for parts and labour should your car suffer any mechanical or electrical breakdown. Find out more here or call 0800 212 810.

Cleanest cars may be exempt from congestion charge

The drivers of an estimated 14,000 petrol and diesel cars currently pay the London congestion charge and yet are driving vehicles producing less emissions than hybrids, which are currently exempt. However, this may all change following a review of the scheme. Read more

Cloud-making ships to tackle climate change

The idea of using ‘geo-engineering’ projects to tackle climate change is not new, but amongst the various proposals to either reduce sunlight levels or take CO2 out of the air by man-made means, one in particular is gaining increasing support from the scientific community. Read more

Britain to build batteries for first electric car

Britain will produce batteries for the world’s first mass-produced electric car, which is due to go on sale in 2010. The Nissan ‘Leaf’ is a hatchback design, which the company hopes will become the world’s first mass-produced electric car. Read more

Web to water

Moreeco.com, the eco shopping reward site, donates £1 to WaterAid for each person who signs up (offer code ‘wateraidETS’). Shop through the site and you will earn
points which can be redeemed for vouchers or gifts.