Transport

Big companies from around the world have already shown interest in Prof. Lee Cronin's energy-dense liquid battery. Image credit - University of Glasgow

interview | transport | frontier research

17 September 2018

Tenfold improvement in liquid batteries mean electric car refuelling could take minutes

One of the biggest drawbacks of electric vehicles – that they require hours and hours to charge – could be obliterated by a new type of liquid battery that is roughly ten times more energy-dense than existing models, according to Professor Lee Cronin, the Regius Chair of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow, UK.

Jérôme Delafosse hopes that hydrogen will replace many of the fossil fuels we use today. Image credit - Energy Observer

interview | transport | energy

24 July 2018

Hydrogen-powered boat plots course for the future of ocean travel

The first day that Jérôme Delafosse stepped aboard the Energy Observer, an experimental catamaran run on hydrogen, he knew the plan of sailing around the world on clean energy was a realistic one, he says. Now, the explorer and documentary maker is one year into a six-year odyssey around the globe with his friend Victorien Erussard, an ocean racer and former cruise ship officer, to prove that the technology can be used for pollution-free ocean travel in the future.

interview | transport

18 July 2018

We need a drone register to ensure privacy and safety - air traffic expert

Requiring drones to identify and authorise themselves before they can fly, which could be achieved by fitting them with SIM cards, could help to protect people's privacy by providing an effective way to register both users and machines, according to air traffic management expert Robin Garrity. He has been working on the U-space plan, which sets out a vision for how drones can be integrated into airspace, particularly in urban environments. It is part of work being conducted by the SESAR Joint Undertaking, a public-private partnership that coordinates EU research activities in air traffic management.

transport

03 July 2018

Catching ultrafine emissions could help develop cleaner cars

Modern engines - in particular those which inject fuel at high pressure - maximise efficiency and cut carbon dioxide emissions, but may also release harder-to-catch pollution associated with cancers and lung, heart and Alzheimer’s diseases. In response, European researchers are analysing exhaust particles down to one billionth of a metre, which may help in the development of cleaner cars.

transport

11 June 2018

Crash test dummies based on older bodies could reduce road fatalities

Europe’s population is ageing rapidly, yet the majority of car safety equipment is tested using dummies modelled on people under the age of 65. Now researchers are developing vehicles and equipment designed specifically for the physical attributes and abilities of older bodies.

environment | transport

15 May 2018

Radical closed-wing aircraft design could see greener skies take flight

Aviation is one of the most environmentally harmful forms of transportation, accounting for 3% of all EU greenhouse gas emissions. But new aircraft designs inspired by the work of an early 20th-century aviation engineer and natural substances such as honeycomb and grass could help to cut the environmental footprint of flying.

transport

09 May 2018

Shared data and shrinking aircraft seats to cut travel times in Europe

Aircraft seats that temporarily shrink and a joined-up transport system that allows people to easily plan a door-to-door journey could help shift people’s first choice of travel away from cars and towards public transport by reducing the time and effort involved.

Digital communication between ships could help optimise shipping routes and reduce fuel consumption. Image credit - B.S. Halpern (T. Hengl; D. Groll) / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

environment | transport

18 April 2018

Electric ferries and joined-up shipping to turn sea travel green

Electric ferries and digital communication between ships could help in the quest to decarbonise maritime transport, a sector which is often perceived as being the green option but could still do much to lower its environmental footprint.

transport

16 April 2018

Fleets of compact e-vehicles could help battle air pollution

Lightweight electric mini-cars could soon be a common sight on the streets of Europe’s cities thanks to longer-lasting batteries, tilting and stackable design, and modular components to bring down the cost of mass production.

We asked a selection of European scientists which scientific breakthroughs they'd like to see in 2018. Image credits from left to right: Atrial myxoma edge low mag by Nephron is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, Maddieee/ Pixabay, NASA/ESA

space | health | transport

02 January 2018

Expect exoplanet atmospheres, organs with new functions and fewer traffic jams in 2018

The search for alien life with next-generation telescopes, a self-healing heart capable of restarting itself, and safer roads with smarter cars are expected to feature as the some of the key scientific breakthroughs in the coming year.