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.

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.

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.

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.

The EU-funded TelliBox project has optimised available loading space in freight vehicles, promising more efficient transport of goods.

An EU-funded collaboration between universities and industry is overcoming limitations in current technologies to develop new bioethanol engines.

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.

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.

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.

The 'SafeInteriors' project is developing new methods for designing and testing furniture, components and systems associated with train vehicle interiors.

A new EU-funded research project is developing monitoring and recognition systems to combat pollution caused by maritime transport and other marine activities.

The EU-funded NEWAC project has delivered new engine designs to help Europe meet pressing emission targets for air transport.

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.

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.

The ERRAC ROADMAP project is working to promote a more systematic and focused approach to the use of rail transport sector resources. In a recent workshop in Brussels, participants discussed lessons learned from past research projects, with a view to enhancing real market uptake of results.

The EU-funded 'SARTRE' project is developing and testing new technologies to enable vehicles to travel together safely in 'road trains' on unmodified public motorways.

The EU-funded PPLANE project is poised to revolutionise travel, ease congestion with its Personal Air Transport System (PATS), a new paradigm in air transport. Like a private car, the PPlane personal air vehicle will deliver the benefits of speed and routing efficiency only possible through direct-to-destination flight.

Two new EU-funded projects have set out to examine the effects of changing weather patterns on transport in Europe. 'EWENT' and 'WEATHER' will carry out in-depth analyses, assess the hazards and propose response strategies.

Partners in the EU-funded 'STADIUM' project will look for ways to improve transport services for large events in big cities, including the South Africa World Cup, the India Commonwealth Games and the London Olympics.

The CONCERTOUR project, developing new strategies and solutions for sustainable tourism, has held its final conference in Rome. Participants from across Europe discussed results and looked towards further research linking tourism and transport.