The diesel ferries used to transport people and vehicles from point A to point B produce a lot of air pollution. But a new all-electric, pollution-free car ferry designed by the EU-funded E-ferry project has proven capable of effectively replacing these diesel models. As a result, passengers across Europe could soon be commuting via sustainable, quiet, and smog-free electric ferries.
Methanol has been touted as a potential climate-friendly ‘fuel of the future’ since the late 1980s, but its use in the transport sector remains limited. The possibility of generating it from CO2 has recently rekindled interest. An EU-funded project explored this option to decarbonise the steel industry and power cargo ships that would benefit both the environment and, subsequently, citizens.
Until electric cars and other energy-efficient innovations are practical and affordable to all, the internal combustion engine will continue to be widely used, with the consequent greenhouse gas emissions. To help reduce pollution levels, EU-funded researchers have developed new laser ignition techniques, which have the potential to make combustion engines far more energy-efficient.
The development of autonomous driving systems is currently a focus of research for the automotive industry. An EU-funded project has moved work forward in this area by developing an advanced driver-assistance system that can work safely and reliably in all weathers.
What, exactly, will it take to transition to a low-emission society? Where can we make improvements? Will they be sufficient? How do the options combine? EU-funded researchers have produced a website where users can mix and match possible solutions and explore how these choices play out across key areas.
An advanced biofuel plant under construction in Romania is at the centre of an EU-funded project to prove the environmental and economic benefits of producing cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues.
Road congestion in cities reduces mobility. An EU-funded project integrated multiple sources of data to improve urban traffic flows, with the active engagement of citizens, to deliver tools to achieve more efficient and cleaner transportation.
Plug-and-play smart cities? An open source platform jointly developed by Japanese and EU-funded researchers is facilitating the deployment of smart city technologies in urban centres worldwide to tackle urban challenges ranging from air quality and energy use to traffic congestion and infrastructure upkeep.
Getting people to wear bicycle helmets can be tricky. Many cyclists complain that helmets are just too hot. But EU-funded researchers are now making the headgear a lot cooler, creating an extra incentive to wear it while boosting safety.
A huge EU-funded project has demonstrated how big data and artificial intelligence could transform Europe's transport sector, cutting costs and fuel consumption on road, rail, air and sea while boosting operational efficiency and improving customer experience.
