2021
Bio-CNG as an alternative to electricity?
Electricity only has a good carbon footprint as long as it is not produced from fossil fuels. The situation is completely different with biogas, which is produced from renewable raw materials and therefore always has a good carbon footprint. Is biogas ultimately the better alternative to electric?
Portuguese Low Emission Zones explained
In Portugal, the environmental zones are called Zona de Emissões Reduzidas (ZER) (Emission Reduced Zone). There are only two of them, the smaller and stricter one being within the larger one. Both are located in Lisbon and are bordered by the River Tagus to the south.
Taxi industry is being turned upside down
The German Federal Taxi and Hire Car Association (BVTM) has presented a plan to electrify 80 percent of the taxi fleet by 2030. The paper, called Federal Roadmap eTaxi, focuses on promoting, demanding and networking.
Holidays with the motorhome
The Fiat Ducato is one of the most popular vans taken as the basis for a motorhome. But its emission class does not meet all the requirements for a carefree holiday. That is about to change.
Depression due to air pollution
The effects of air pollution not only damage the body, but also the psyche. This is what a Belgian study has found. More people go to the doctor or take sick leave when there is increased air pollution.
Motorbikes cleaner than cars
The Association of European Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) wants to work on significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions. At the same time, jobs are to be secured, the environment protected and economic growth promoted. As the development of electric motorbikes is still in its infancy, the manufacturers also hope to further develop and use e-fuel.
Permanent Low Emission Zones in France explained
The French system for preventing urban and regional pollution is very comprehensive. France tries to curb air pollution with the help of six stickers called Certificat qualité de l'Air. The stickers categorise the different vehicles according to their pollutant emissions. Older vehicles that produce a lot of exhaust fumes get the worst class 5, or if they are even older, no sticker at all. In the meantime, you need such a sticker in many cities, as otherwise you will no longer have access and will have to pay high fines if you enter anyway.
E-truck from Mercedes goes into series production
The transport industry has realised: With its heavy freighters, it is part of the problem of air pollution both in cities and on the busy routes between cities and distribution centres. Mercedes-Benz has now started to produce its first e-truck in series. And thus has a decisive advantage in Europe's low-emission zones.
How zero-emission zones become a success
One of the biggest challenges facing the electrification of transport is the charging infrastructure. Even if more and more drivers opt for an electric model, it will fail in everyday life due to the lack of sockets on the road. One solution is sockets integrated into street lamps. In Berlin, they already wanted to test this by equipping some street lamps with plugs. In London and Arnhem, they are already further along.
Norway: 25 % luxury tax for electric cars
Anyone who has an electric car in Norway pays hardly any tax on it. This applied to 78 percent of new purchases made so far in 2021 and to 55 percent of purchases in the previous year. Norway thus leads the electric quota in Europe. The citizens of Norway will also have to hurry, because from 2025 onwards, no more passenger cars and light commercial vehicles with internal combustion engines will be allowed to drive in the country.