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Materials and drives for High & Wide efficiency electric powertrains - Reducing dependency on rare earth materials Published on: 15/05/2013: Presently, drives for Fully Electric Vehicles and Hybrid Electric Vehicles develop their highest efficiency of around 93–95% within a speed range of usually 1/4 to 1/3 of the maximum, and at an ideal torque, whereas in real-life driving cycles the motor operates at a wider range of speeds and at partial load, resulting in much lower efficiency.

Leading the charge into the future, one electric car at a time Published on: 15/05/2013: Overconsumption of fossil fuels, excessive carbon emissions and threats to air quality are all urgent problems that would be addressed if all-electric vehicles were fully operational and in widespread use. Research conducted by the European Union funded Fuerex project could give consumers in the near future the option of driving a car with almost zero emissions, without compromising on the range of the battery.

On the right track Published on: 13/05/2013: When Europe's rail pioneers created the first steam engines some two centuries ago, they gave little thought to whether their inventions might be used in other countries: while their ingenuity helped transform travel, they never got round to setting uniform rail technologies across the continent.

The ultimate flight simulator Published on: 08/05/2013: For pilots, one of the most difficult skills to learn is 'upset recovery' - righting a plane that has stalled or been thrown into an unstable situation due to weather or a technical problem. When a pilot is not able to fly out of an 'upset' and the plane proceeds out of control, accidents can result. And it is precisely because these extreme conditions seldom occur in real life that it is hard for a pilot to be prepared for them: up to now, no flight simulator reflects adequately how an actual a...

Enhancing passenger experience in future air transport (VR-Hyperspace) Published on: 07/05/2013: Have you ever wanted to get away from it all – while stuck on a crowded airplane? Adopting radical approaches using virtual, enhanced and mixed reality, the ‘VR-Hyperspace’ project is targeting a paradigm shift in the way we ‘see’ passenger comfort.

Stadium: smarter transport management for global events Published on: 06/05/2013: An innovative online tool has been developed to help cities meet the transport demands of large-scale events. Created through an international EU-funded project, the tool shows how integration of Intelligent Transport Systems can make a world of difference.

Hoverspill – new vehicle for oil spill clean-up and more Published on: 09/04/2013: The ‘Hoverspill’ project, with support from the EU Framework Programme, has developed a new amphibious vehicle platform aimed at rapid oil spill response. But researchers say it can and will do much more.

Meshing around made air planes quieter Published on: 05/04/2013: Anyone living near an airport will testify to the ferocious sound of airplanes taking off and landing. It can be deafening very close to the runway and still very disruptive at a distance. But thanks to a European Union research project, those thundering flyovers could be muffled, sparing the eardrums of people under the flight paths.

TITAN – focus on aircraft ‘turnaround’ Published on: 04/04/2013: The EU-funded TITAN project has delivered a new model for collaborative air transport decision making, and a tool to improve aircraft turnaround at airports, optimising efficiency while reducing flight delays and cancellations.

Car body parts that store electricity Published on: 27/03/2013: Powering a car with batteries is basically a question of numbers. The more you have, the further you can expect it to go. However, larger batteries do not necessarily bring more mileage. Their sheer weight and size can cancel out power gains and limit performance; a battery in a 1200 kg Tesla Roadster weighs in at a hefty 450 kg.

Building up instead of cutting out: reducing resource waste Published on: 27/03/2013: The production of advanced high-tech components for aircraft and other aerospace applications is an expensive and time-intensive process involving design, prototyping and then machining of parts often using costly high strength-to-weight materials such as titanium. A new production approach developed under the European Union (EU) -funded RAPOLAC project (Rapid Production of Large Aerospace Components) can bypass the prototyping stage and build a new part in a fraction of the time with production...

Containers get a redesign to pack more in: Tellibox Published on: 26/03/2013: Used all over the world to ship goods stamped with "Made in …", containers are at the very heart of global trade. They have been around since the 1950s and have literally revolutionised the way we manufacture, trade and consume goods.

The next generation of cockpit displays Published on: 26/03/2013: With its all-around touchscreens, futuristic design, and dazzling interactive displays, it looks more like a flight deck from the Star Wars or Star Trek movies than anything in use today. Yet the ODICIS concept is a vision for a very real application: a cockpit that airplane or helicopter pilots might use within a decade from now.

Turning the volume down in Europe's cities Published on: 13/03/2013: Millions of European city dwellers endure urban noise pollution every day. Apart from its nuisance value, noise in Europe has health risks with stress and cardiovascular issues being particular concerns, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The social costs of traffic noise in Europe have been estimated to 0.4% of total economic output, mainly from road transport.

Network of researchers helps making drivers more aware of road safety Published on: 13/03/2013: In Europe over 41,000 people die and 1.6 million are injured in traffic accidents every year. However, there are striking regional differences. In Southern Europe the number of traffic deaths is as much as two to three times higher for the same number of vehicles. The project SAFEAST, Towards Safer Road Traffic in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, was set up to examine the reasons behind these differences in October 2004. Universities from Sweden, the United Kingdom, Finland, and Greece particip...

The research network devising ways to diagnose powertrains Published on: 13/03/2013: As the group of components that generates power for a locomotive, the powertrain – which includes the transmission, drive shafts, and differentials – is the motor of the railways. It needs to be watched and maintained carefully to ensure every aspect is safe and in proper working order. But this is a tough task: there are few diagnostic tools available to check the reliability of powertrains, so maintenance is either done after a component fails (with all the associated risks to the service), or...

Assessing vehicle compatibility in road accidents (Fimcar) Published on: 12/03/2013: Traditionally, car crash safety testing has focused mainly on the protection of drivers and passengers in wall impact scenarios. The ‘Fimcar’ project has been looking more closely at real-world accidents and considering better ways to assess safety.

Underground train prototype better equipped against attack (SECUREMETRO) Published on: 28/02/2013: The EU-funded SecureMetro project has developed blast-resilient metro carriages that are better able to withstand a terrorist attack, promising to restore the confidence of travellers and ultimately save lives.

How you drive makes a difference (Udrive) Published on: 27/02/2013: The EU-funded ‘Udrive’ project is using the latest information and communications technologies (ICT) to observe human driving behaviour, with the aim of improving road safety and fuel efficiency.

Protecting our most vulnerable road users Published on: 05/02/2013: Researchers say many thousands of children could benefit from a new system that helps ensure their safety as they go to school. SAFEWAY2SCHOOL brings together the latest communications technologies to, among other things, warn drivers of the presence of children near bus stops.

Important new model for car safety (ADSEAT) Published on: 29/01/2013: The EU-funded ADSEAT project has developed the world’s first virtual crash test dummy of an average female. The computational model is to be used in virtual testing of vehicle seat safety performance.

Adapting formula one 1 technology to aid the rail sector Published on: 12/06/2012: A research project funded by the European Commission has led to a potential breakthrough for the rail sector - by adapting light weight materials most commonly found in high performance racing cars. The results promise to provide the rail industry with trains that are more environmentally-friendly, easier and cheaper to produce, and less costly for rail companies in terms of track maintenance. An all round win-win situation.

Containers get a redesign to pack more in: Tellibox Published on: 12/06/2012: Shipping containers are crucial for European and global trade and yet concerns about capacity and efficiency and potential environmental drawbacks have led for calls for a redesign. Tellibox, an EU funded project, has done exactly that, successfully demonstrating the MegaSwapBox – a 100 metre-cubed container that can be loaded from three sides and is compatible with multiple transport modes.

Cargo crawlers: ship-surveying robots assist human inspectors Published on: 12/06/2012: Historically, inspecting cargo ships for cracks, corrosion and other signs of wear has been time-consuming, expensive. For the inspectors who have to climb scaffolding it is also potentially dangerous. Seeking to ease these difficulties, the EU-funded project MINOAS has developed robots equipped with cameras and magnetic wheels that can scale walls and report back their findings – quickly, accurately and safely.

Reducing the impact of human error at sea Published on: 16/02/2012: The recent accident of the Costa Concordia cruise ship has tragically shown that mistakes at sea can have severe consequences. The European Commission is supporting advanced research that helps reduce the risks of human error and the impact, should something go wrong nevertheless.

Safer recovery from difficult flight conditions Published on: 16/02/2012: Aircraft are very safe, but unexpected, extremely difficult flight conditions do happen. Up to now, no simulator has been able to give pilots training that could prepare them realistically for situations like these. The SUPRA project has succeeded in building a flight simulator to train pilots for harsh conditions.

Are in-vehicle technologies improving road safety? Published on: 03/02/2012: As technology advances, vehicle manufacturers are incorporating more and more gadgets such as cell phones, satellite navigators and in-car video systems into vehicles. But what are the effects of these in-vehicle technologies (IVTs) on road safety? Ten European research partners are trying to determine how safe they really are.

How a holistic approach can help aircraft noise reduction Published on: 03/02/2012: Aircraft noise is a daily blight on the lives of millions. Although aircraft noise is caused by a large number of factors, previous efforts to reduce it have only ever looked at those factors in isolation. A unique EU project involving 47 partners, including major players in aeronautics, aims to take a ‘whole-aircraft’ approach, significantly reducing the noise by tackling the problem as a whole.

Road train approaching Published on: 19/01/2012: The SARTRE project (Safe Road Trains for the Environment) has successfully completed the first test demonstrations of a multiple vehicle platoon. The test fleet included a lead truck followed by three cars driven entirely autonomously at speeds of up to 90 km/h – with no more than a 6 metres gap between the vehicles.

Eco-friendly trains with hybrid energy storage Published on: 07/01/2012: Researchers are investigating how to make diesel-powered trains more eco-friendly. One way is to implement a hybrid energy storage system that both could lower fuel consumption up to 13 percent and reduce harmful idling emissions.

Nice - A new era for the internal combustion engine Published on: 11/10/2011: A new internal combustion engine addresses the drawbacks of petrol and diesel designs. As a result, it cuts both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The project, NICE, was supported by the European Commission.

Introducing greener cars on our roads Published on: 15/09/2011: Green alternatives to conventional cars are needed fast – for the sake of the environment, and the health of the European economy. But a lot more innovation is needed to make greener cars ready for mass production. To speed things up and encourage cost-sharing, the European Commission is promoting cooperation at every stage – often between commercial rivals.

Driverless Heathrow pods demonstrate the unimaginable Published on: 06/09/2011: London Heathrow airport has recently introduced driverless pods to connect Terminal 5 with its car parks, replacing a regular bus service. A hit with travellers and techies alike, these pods are being introduced on the road with support from the European Commission’s Framework Programme for research.

Towards a common European train Published on: 26/08/2011: Rail interoperability is needed to ensure that the European trains of tomorrow will enjoy the same freedom of travel as the EU’s citizens do today. This is why the European Commission funded the MODTRAIN research project, which worked on standardising the numerous components that make up a train, as well as the interfaces between them.

What the European Commission is funding in air transport research Published on: 25/07/2011: Air transport has become a corner stone of our economy and the path to our mobility. This video shows some of the fascinating research that is done with the help of FP7 funding for air transport and aeronautics to make air transport safer, greener and more competitive.

Innovation brings new road safety measures to market Published on: 29/06/2011: A chest protection device that was developed following European research into improving ‘passive’ safety for road users is now available on the market.

Research on the road to green cars Published on: 09/06/2011: The European Parliament had an opportunity to see progress made in the European Green Car Initiative (EGCI) on 31 May 2011. Many of the automotive firms involved in EGCI projects exhibited their latest vehicles, while a workshop reported to MEPs of the Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) Committee.

Nano Powered Cars Published on: 31/05/2011: How can electric cars increase their driving range before they need to stop and recharge? Traditional batteries cannot keep up with the high storage demand but the complete redesign of lithium ion batteries open up new possibilities

European research to reduce volcanic ash impact Published on: 31/05/2011: As a new outburst by an Icelandic volcano threatens once again to bring European air transport to a standstill, the European Commission is supporting research into the impact of ash on aircrafts in flight. The aim is to be able to respond more effectively to such rare but high-impact events.

Progress in the development of rechargeable batteries through nanotechnology Published on: 26/05/2011: Researchers are testing different ways of improving rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles and nanotechnology plays an important role in the development. The aim is to offer batteries that have fast charge and discharge rates as well as high stored energy per mass. This can make electric vehicles a competitive alternative to petrol-powered vehicles

'TIFFE' outlines innovative vehicle temperature management system Published on: 25/05/2011: The EU-funded 'TIFFE' project has developed a new vehicle with an innovative front-end design and advanced components for more efficient heat radiation and onboard cooling, and better fuel economy.

Going beyond ‘niche’: innovative public transport for the masses Published on: 11/05/2011: The EU-supported ‘Niches+’ project recently held its final conference, which included the prize ceremony for the Osmose Awards, honouring local and regional authorities that have introduced new measures for sustainable urban transport.

'TelliBox' delivers better system for intermodal freight transport Published on: 29/03/2011: The EU-funded TelliBox project has optimised available loading space in freight vehicles, promising more efficient transport of goods.

A new supercapacitor to improve power and efficiency and increase battery life of electric vehicles Published on: 04/02/2011: The first generation of electric vehicles had limited operating distance, poor acceleration and poor battery life;a new accumulation system - the ILHYPOS supercapacitor - can improve performance, power, efficiency and increase the life of the batteries

Tune Up Your Electric Car! Published on: 03/02/2011: A new invention by Italian researchers could provide a significant boost in the performance and efficiency of electric cars. “The ILHYPOS supercapacitor can improve the performance of your electric vehicle, particularly the power, efficiency and duration of the battery”, says Mario Conte project coordinator of the European Research Project ILHYPOS

Hydrogen: The Green Fuel Of The Future Published on: 31/01/2011: Engineers from 28 research institutions have combined their expertise to make significant improvements to the electric powered car. They worked on fuel cell technology and electric drive systems to build a car which is cost efficient, satisfies the customers and is ready for mass production. Working together within the European research project HySYS, their aim was to create a standard of the improved and newly invented components

European research looks into sustainable solutions for an innovative high quality bus system Published on: 18/01/2011: This winter has not helped the image of public transportation. Trains and busses were often running late, adding to the many other nuisances of public transport such as crowded carriages, uncomfortable travelling or the inefficient exchange of vehicles. At least, this is the perception of millions of commuters in Europe. But not everywhere

Bus of the Future Published on: 17/01/2011: Punctuality, comfortable travelling, efficient exchange of vehicles. It sounds like a dream, but for Umberto Guida it’s a vision. Guida works for the international Association of Public Transport and coordinates the research project EBSF, European Bus System of the Future, which aims to improve bus services in seven different European cities

Prof. Hermann Knoflacher: “Our car-addicted society is not easy to handle so we have to make changes step by step to improve sustainable mobility” Published on: 14/01/2011: Prof. Hermann Knoflacher has been active in the sustainable mobility field for about 40 years. He is conducting research in sustainable transport at the Institute for Traffic Planning and Traffic Engineering at the Vienna University of Technology in Austria. He talked about sustainable mobility development and his scientific solution

Dr. David O. Kronlid: “If you think about the existential dimension of mobility you also have to embrace the fact that there are values integrated in the use of mobility technology” Published on: 11/01/2011: Dr. David O. Kronlid at Uppsala University in Sweden is conducting research in environmental ethics, mobility and climate change justice. He talked about mobility at the core of climate change research and policy

Innovative concepts of urban mobility Published on: 22/12/2010: The Civitas Mimosa European project, working together with the citizens towards a new and innovative concept of urban mobility, is identifying where traffic congestion can be handled more effectively and how pollution can be reduced in the city center

City Closure Increases Mobility Published on: 20/12/2010: With the increase in car numbers on our roads the pollution and congestion in our cities is growing rapidly. This situation becomes problematic especially for city centres with historic heritage like Bologna by CORINNA LÜCKE (Dec. '10)

Monitoring dangerous vehicles whilst in motion Published on: 17/12/2010: A European research project has tested the use of 3D cameras alongside the highways and sensors embedded in the roadside to detect dangerous, overloaded trucks as they move. The system enables a reduction in accidents, protects the road infrastructure and reduces fuel consumption and pollution by ensuring conformity to weight controls

'Beauty' project developing better biofuel engine Published on: 15/12/2010: An EU-funded collaboration between universities and industry is overcoming limitations in current technologies to develop new bioethanol engines.

Automated Truck Inspection Published on: 13/12/2010: Total control on a Bavarian motorway: European researchers and German Police set up a test zone for extensive traffic monitoring. Their goal is to identify overloaded trucks which destroy roads and cause accidents and traffic jams

How are we reducing greenhouse gas emissions from urban mobility? Published on: 10/12/2010: Forty percent of all road transport CO2 emissions come from urban mobility, according to the European Commission. Many projects aim to reduce greenhouse emissions while simultaneously improving mobility

'CityMove' looks to future of urban freight Published on: 07/12/2010: With the majority of the population in Europe now living in urban areas and the bulk of industrial production being dispatched to these areas, the demand for freight transport in cities is at an all-time high.

Making progress on public transport accessibility Published on: 29/11/2010: EU-funded research projects, including 'Mediate' and 'Access2All' are finding new ways to get the disabled, elderly and other 'transport vulnerable' citizens into the public transport system. In doing so, they are making it easier for everyone to enjoy more efficient mobility.

The Plastic Trailer: a green revolution in transport Published on: 27/10/2010: An aerodynamic shaped plastic truck trailer that is as solid as one made from steel but weighs 1200 kg less: Composite Engineers from an independent research centre in Loughborough, UK, succeeded in the development of a new material that could save up to 15 percent of fuel in freight transport

Matthew Turner: “Reduced weight, aerodynamics and fully recyclable composites to make freight transport greener” Published on: 27/10/2010: A new composite material made of plastics, 75% lighter but almost as strong as steel, was created within the EU research project CLEANMOULD. Matthew Turner, composite engineer at EPL Composite Solutions, an independent research centre in Leicestershire, is the project coordinator

New rail driver's cab points way to future Published on: 22/10/2010: The EU-funded 'EUDDplus' project has achieved new milestones on the way to the safer and more standardised rail transport driver's cab of the future.

EU-funded fuel cell vehicle performs like conventional car Published on: 29/09/2010: The HyTRAN vehicle is an electric prototype equipped with a complete fuel cell system. Essentially a modified Fiat Panda, it can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in just 13 seconds.

Cars without drivers – not science fiction Published on: 22/09/2010: During the recent 'car-free' day in Brussels, an event organised each year in conjunction with European Mobility Week, members of the public got a chance to try out the latest 'cybercars' – small autonomous vehicles for public transport.

Prof. Kypros Pilakoutas: “An economic, long lasting and energy efficient material” Published on: 06/09/2010: Within the European Research project ECOLANES scientists have developed a dry mix concrete which is reinforced with the recycled steel fibres. Their aim was to make the production of the concrete as energy efficient as possible, and using recycled materials is a key factor

Recycled Streets Published on: 06/09/2010: Making traffic more environmentally friendly is not only about vehicle technology. Prof Pilakoutas from the University of Sheffield and his team have created an innovative concrete that saves energy and makes waste tyre recycling economically more attractive by CORINNA LÜCKE (Sep. '10)

Making train interiors safer for passengers Published on: 01/09/2010: The 'SafeInteriors' project is developing new methods for designing and testing furniture, components and systems associated with train vehicle interiors.

Werner Schönewolf: “The last mile is the most expensive in the logistic world. We want to overcome this last mile with a micro-carrier” Published on: 04/08/2010: Freight delivery services have their own challenges when operating in the inner cities. The logistic experts working on the European funded FIDEUS project have taken this problem as a central issue for a complete redesign of the urban freight logistics

EU research targets marine oil spills Published on: 27/07/2010: A new EU-funded research project is developing monitoring and recognition systems to combat pollution caused by maritime transport and other marine activities.

New aircraft engine designs reduce CO2 emissions Published on: 22/07/2010: The EU-funded NEWAC project has delivered new engine designs to help Europe meet pressing emission targets for air transport.

First ever 'naturalistic' study to monitor motorbike drivers Published on: 19/07/2010: The EU-funded '2BESAFE' project will carry out a groundbreaking study of motorbike and scooter driver behaviour, known to be a major contributing factor in two-wheeler crashes.

Building cockpits for safer and more efficient aviation Published on: 13/07/2010: The 'ALICIA' project is developing systems to improve the safety of landing and taxiing operations, and to increase the efficiency of the air transport network. The target date is 2020, but some technologies could be operational much sooner.

World records for EU-funded fuel cell-powered aircraft Published on: 09/07/2010: A hydrogen fuel cell-powered aircraft developed by the 'ENFICA-FC' project has completed a number of successful test flights out of Reggio Emilia airport in Italy, establishing new speed and endurance records for electrically powered class C aeroplanes.

Electric Parcel Service Published on: 06/07/2010: An electrically powered micro-carrier could soon revolutionize the way parcel services operate in inner cities. (Jun ’10)

Solid ground for pedestrians on footbridges Published on: 06/07/2010: Bringing walkers into the urban transport fold, 'YEAR 2010' award winner Sifiso Nhleko has developed an innovative and inexpensive method for testing the structural integrity of footbridges before they are built.

Infrastructure and renewable energy for FCV’s Published on: 21/06/2010: Our society lacks hydrogen refuelling stations for fuel cell vehicles (FCV’s) and we have a long way to go before obtaining all energy from renewable sources. However, interesting projects are developing in this area

Innovative monitoring for road transport safety Published on: 18/06/2010: The EU-funded 'ASSET-Road' project has opened a new test site on the A8 Salzburg-Munich motorway in Germany. The objective is to reduce the number of serious road accidents, especially those linked to heavy goods transport.

Making road transport more intelligent Published on: 18/06/2010: A key contributor to this year's Transport Research Arena (TRA) Conference, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Information Society and Media (DG INFSO) works to develop and deploy applications based on information and communication technologies (ICTs) for the transport sector.