Austria's Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler is considering a ban on new vehicles with internal combustion engines from 2027 to meet the country's climate targets. This proposal comes at a time when Austria is facing the adoption of important legislation due to opposition from the SPÖ.
Attention, truck drivers! Due to a public holiday in Italy, there are some changes this week that you should be aware of. The Federal Ministry for Climate Protection is taking measures to regulate heavy goods traffic in Tyrol with driving bans and closures. So be prepared to exercise patience once again!
Imagine driving along a scenic road on a sunny day and feeling the wind in your hair. Suddenly a car swerves into your lane and you have no time to react. Accidents of this kind happen frequently, and each one is a tragedy for those involved. However, new regulations requiring the installation of black boxes in all new cars in Germany are intended to prevent or minimise the damage caused by accidents. But what if the black boxes could also be used in the future to monitor emissions data and enforce environmental zones and driving bans?
Munich may not implement the second stage of its diesel driving ban due to improved air quality. The first stage, which came into force on 1 February, banned Euro 4 diesel vehicles from the Mittlerer Ring. The ban aims to reduce nitrogen dioxide levels and further driving bans are planned if levels do not improve. However, the readings in Landshuter Allee have improved significantly, so there is hope that further driving bans will not be necessary.
From 2035, new combustion vehicles will be banned in Europe and only new electric vehicles will be allowed. In many cities, however, these will already be banned in the environmental zones before then. How will the millions of e-cars be charged in the confined urban areas? In Antwerp (Belgium), e-cars can already be charged flexibly at mobile charging stations. Now the service could soon be expanded and find space in other major cities in Europe.
Like a miniature fuel production plant, the leaf produces bio-ethanol and -propanol from light, water and CO2. Applied on a larger scale, this could be an interesting solution for the climate-neutral production of synthetic fuels - and thus represent a further step away from fossil fuels.
In Sri Lanka, electromobility initially means converting autorickshaws to e-drives. Approximately 600,000 tuk-tuks will say goodbye to combustion engines in the coming years in order to support the country's economy - and to make transport on the island more sustainable. Will environmental zones be set up for this?
In addition to the existing strict environmental zone, an additional truck driving ban and four block clearance days on tomorrow's public holiday are planned for the Ascension week in Tyrol. Additional driving bans on main and secondary roads in the region are also planned for the coming months to dose traffic. Long traffic jams are to be expected in the Inn Valley and the rest of Tyrol.
This is the conclusion of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) - concerned that wood-burning stoves and fireplaces release too much particulate matter during operation. According to a draft law of the Federal Cabinet, heating with wood could be permitted only on a restricted basis in the future.
The so-called traffic turnaround does not only mean sustainable mobility on the roads. The aviation industry must also reduce its emissions – and thus its negative impact on air quality and the environment. What will be the best green drive solution? E-fuels or fuel cells? Will environmental zones soon also regulate traffic in the air?
