Burning rubber is the last thing a driver wants to do to save fuel. In fact, tyres account for up to 15% of a vehicle’s fuel consumption. An EU-backed project has developed new compounds, designs and treads for tyre manufacturing to slash this “rolling resistance” for the good of the transport sector and the environment.
Advances in driverless vehicle technology could revolutionise the way we travel. An EU-funded project is working to develop a prototype automated transport system for urban areas with low passenger numbers.
From sporting events to festivals and concerts, the most successful are those that leave participants talking about the event itself – not overcrowded busses that delayed arrival or gridlock on the roads afterwards.
A new call for proposals for Smart Cities and Communities under Horizon 2020 opened on 10 December 2014 (deadline for submitting proposals is 5 May 2015). It calls for proposals in two topics: SCC-01-2015: Smart Cities and Communities solutions integrating energy, transport and ICT sectors through lighthouse (large scale demonstration – first of the kind) projects and SCC-03-2015: Development of system standards for smart cities and communities solutions.
Electric vehicles have long been heralded as the future of transportation. They are relatively cheap to run, don’t depend on declining oil stocks and don’t release nasty emissions into the environment. But their initial cost, together with the inconvenience of finding charging points, is keeping electric vehicles in the showroom. EU-funded researchers are finding answers to these challenges with studies into the feasibility of wireless charging in public spaces.
The EU-funded FASTINCHARGE project is designing a more practical and efficient means of recharging electric vehicles (EV). In doing so, the project aims to make electric vehicles more appealing to consumers – helping car makers become more competitive.
If you’ve ever been stuck on the motorway in a tailback of polluting heavy goods vehicles, then you’ll welcome this EU-funded project to reduce the burden of freight on the roads by moving it to rail with a new loading system. The method, which also saves rail freight companies both time and money, is already being introduced in one Italian port.
With the support of the European Research Council (ERC) "Proof of Concept" grants, 59 researchers in Europe will now get the chance to turn their inventions into viable products.
An EU-funded project shows that alternative propulsion systems and new hull designs could improve the efficiency of ships and barges by at least 15%. More efficient vessels will help to keep prices – and emissions – down.
An EU-funded project has developed the first terahertz scanners for non-destructive testing of aeroplane parts. Outperforming existing technologies, these systems detect small defects on and deep within composite materials – improving safety in the air and helping manufacturers and airline operators optimise maintenance and lower costs.
If you live or work in a city centre, you will know how stressful constant traffic noise can be. But adaptations to roads, tyres, vehicles and urban planning could reduce traffic noise to less than one-tenth current levels in towns and cities, say EU researchers. They have paved the way by developing an approach – along with new designs for road surfaces and tyres – to turn the volume down.
To support the preparation of proposals, DG Research & Innovation's Transport Directorate is organising an Information Day on Monday 2 February 2015 from 9 AM till 6 PM in the Charlemagne building, rue de la Loi 170, Brussels.
The aim of the day is to inform potential participants in the next round of calls under the Smart, Green and Integrated Transport Challenge of the new Horizon 2020 Framework Programme and to offer opportunities for networking.
Technology capable of quickly detecting the tiniest of flaws in automotive parts could help reduce production stoppages and costly vehicle recalls. The next step is to create new opportunities for SMEs by bringing this innovation to market.
EU-funded researchers have developed a driver’s seat and seatbelt from smart textiles that measure heart and breathing rates. Detecting if drivers are showing signs of fatigue behind the wheel and somehow alerting them to the fact, the system could prevent thousands of fatalities every year.
EU-funded researchers have used novel carbon materials to make lightweight, energy-efficient supercapacitors, the energy storage devices that supply power to electric vehicles during acceleration. Their work promises to extend the distance electric vehicles can travel before a recharge. This improved performance could boost their appeal on the market, help make EU manufacturers more competitive, and contribute to the EU’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A reception in honour of Transportation Research Board Executive Director Robert E. Skinner, Jr., who is retiring after more than thirty years at the TRB was held during the 94th annual Transport Research Board, in Washington, DC, on Monday, January 12, 2015.
Air transport is a growing and increasingly vital part of our rapidly globalising world. At the same time, the aeronautics industry faces an unprecedented set of challenges. Chief among these is the need for greener and more sustainable aviation. For everyone in the industry, the message is clear: successful ‘green’ innovation will be key.
While many of us are used to checking transport schedules on our smartphones, the i-TOUR app, created by EU-funded researchers, goes much further. It advises which form of transport is most appropriate to get from A to B in large urban areas wherever you are in Europe, and takes into account personal preferences, weather and changing circumstances. The i-TOUR team is currently discussing how to take the idea to the market.
Just as the internet revolutionised the way we use mobile devices, the ‘connected car’ has the opportunity to transform the driving experience. CARMESH, a European Union (EU)-funded Marie Curie project, took the first steps towards a seamless integration of digital life into the car.
Years of research, application and targeted policy initiatives have massively improved the safety of Europe’s transportation system. An EU-funded project has identified ways for researchers to share their knowledge and work with each other and policymakers, leading to new insights on how to make all transport modes safer for Europeans.
