Tag: alternative fuels
Electric cars: same rules, same penalties?
In the debate about noise protection and speed limits in Germany, the Zweibrücken Higher Regional Court has now made a decision that could cause confusion. The driver of an electric car, who was travelling at 174 km/h instead of the permitted 100 km/h in a noise protection zone, defended himself against a fine. His argument was that his electric car was quieter than a car with a combustion engine, so he did not have to adhere to the noise-related speed limit. The court took a different view.
Stockholm bans petrol and diesel cars from the city centre from 2025 - a role model for other major cities or an experimental laboratory at the expense of citizens?
The Swedish capital Stockholm has set itself an ambitious goal: From 2025, petrol and diesel cars are to be banned from the city centre. The EU Commission has given the green light for the introduction of a new low emission zone. But is the plan really feasible or just another symbolic political measure by the green-red coalition?
E-car boom in California: A role model for Germany or a castle in the air?
According to a recent study, carbon dioxide emissions have fallen significantly in parts of the US state of California due to the boom in electric cars. The scientists from the University of California in Berkeley analysed data from dozens of CO2 sensors in the San Francisco region, where electric cars are widespread. Over a period of five years, CO2 emissions fell by 1.8 per cent annually, although only almost 20 per cent of cars in San Francisco are either electric or hybrid vehicles.
Electromobility in Germany: Unclear course and gloomy outlook
Electric mobility in Germany is facing major challenges, as ADAC President Christian Reinicke emphasises in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung. His statements shed a gloomy light on the current situation of electric cars and raise the question of whether the government's ambitious targets are achievable at all.
Charging at streetlights: an expensive experiment with limited benefits?
The challenge of electromobility is not only the purchase of the vehicles, but also the provision of a nationwide charging infrastructure. The Berlin start-up Ubitricity has come up with a creative solution: converting street lamps into charging stations. But the reality is sobering. According to current figures from the Berlin Senate, not even one in ten streetlights is suitable for conversion. In addition, the costs are considerable at 6000 euros per conversion (without network expansion).
How sunlight and CO2 can be turned into sustainable fuel
In a recent article published in the journal Sustainable Energy & Fuels, researchers present a new process that uses sunlight to convert CO2 into methanol. This methanol can be used as a sustainable fuel. This sounds promising, but is it too early to be jubilant?
HVO100 - Is the driving ban for standard diesel now coming?
On 22 March 2024, the German Federal Council gave its approval for the authorisation of climate-friendly pure diesel fuels. The beacon of hope of this new era is HVO100, short for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil. This fuel, which is produced from the conversion of vegetable oils or recyclable waste materials, is to be available at German filling stations from 13 April 2024.
ACEEE study: The most environmentally friendly car is not an electric vehicle!
Electromobility is a key building block for more sustainable mobility. Electric cars are considered to be significantly more environmentally friendly than their petrol-guzzling counterparts. However, a recent study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) shows: Electric cars are not always the more environmentally friendly option. In 2024, a plug-in hybrid, the Toyota Prius Prime SE, will top the list of the most environmentally friendly cars. This is despite the fact that electric cars follow in the next four places.
Airbus and the zero-emission fuel cell: are clean flights finally coming?
In January 2021, Airbus will put its first zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell into operation. This is an important step towards the development of a hydrogen-powered aircraft. By opening a development centre for hydrogen technologies in Lower Saxony, Airbus is strengthening its presence in Germany and underlining its ambitions in the field of climate-neutral aviation.
Austrian Post lorries: vegetable oil instead of diesel
Austrian Post has announced that it will switch its entire lorry fleet to HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) by mid-2024. A bold step that makes the company a pioneer in the industry. The progress is undoubtedly impressive, but also raises some questions.