News

Citroën describes its latest electric vehicle as ‘triple zero’; a reference to the fact that the C-ZERO uses no petrol or diesel, emits no CO2 at point of use and produces no noise. The four-seater, automatic-transmission city car will have a top speed of 80mph and a range of approximately 80 miles between charges. The C-Zero’s...

The after-market spoilers fitted to cars often have little aerodynamic benefit, but the most recent design could at least do its bit for the environment. The ‘Shelf’ is an extendable solar panel that stores away inside a rear mounted wing, which also serves to improve the car’s traction and stability. The solar panel unfolds over almost the...

A report by the United Nations has highlighted the danger posed to the environment by certain types of biofuel, the worst of which can emit twenty times more greenhouse gases than fossil fuels. The most environmentally-damaging type of biofuel is a biodiesel from palm oil when grown in tropical peatland forests that have been cleared for...

Cycling in south-east England is set to receive a boost this week when West Sussex County Council starts work to convert the A259 pavement into a shared-use cycle route. Derek Whittington, county council cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, said: “This is part of the county council’s plan to implement 20 km of new cycle...

The Dutch will be the first in Europe to pay for the environmental impact of their motoring through a road-user charge rather than sales, fuel or road taxes. GPS technology onboard each car will track its movements before sending the data to a billing agency. When the system is introduced in 2012, the average-sized car will pay the...

Two-metre long tapering protrusions known as ‘boat tails’ could soon be mounted on the back of lorries as a means of dramatically reducing their fuel consumption CO2 emissions. Computer modelling and wind tunnel testing of the boat tail concept was followed by a year of extensive road tests carried out by PART (Platform for Aerodynamic Road...

Blackpool Council is set to receive a £750,000 cash injection to boost cycling in the region. The money is being awarded as part of the government’s £10 million Cycling Demonstration Towns initiative. "By getting more people cycling, we can help tackle congestion and pollution, as well as helping to promote health and fitness," said...

A new city car, which promises to be the most efficient electric vehicle in the world, has been created by a designer best known for his work on the McLaren F1 and Mercedes SLR ‘supercars’. Gordon Murray has received government funding to develop his T.25 petrol-powered city car into a highly-efficient electric vehicle, which is claimed...

Police are urging cyclists to take extra care with their bikes in Somerset. The warning comes following a series of bike thefts in the region. According to officials, in the past week alone, a number of bike thefts have been reported where thieves have broken into people’s homes. Commenting on the problem, Sgt Adrian Fallows, from Chipping...

Half a century after the advent of the three-point seatbelt, Ford has developed a version that incorporates an airbag. The inflatable seat belt works by spreading the force of impact across a significantly greater area of the torso than a conventional seat belt. Airbags are used in an increasing number of applications – they have been...