News

Three-wheel drive hybrid scooter boasts 141mpg

November 19, 2009

Peugeot hopes that the safety features, fuel economy and environmental performance of its latest scooter will tempt commuters out of their cars. The Peugeot HYbrid3 Evolution has no gears and is powered by a 300cc engine driving its single rear wheel and two 3 kW electric motors – one mounted within each of its two front wheels motors. The...

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Bicycle theft could rocket over Christmas

November 18, 2009

The Business Crime Index published this week predicts that regions hit hardest by the recession will see more people turning to crime over Christmas. The reports warns that businesses, including bicycle retailers, may be seen as highly attractive to thieves during this time due to increased levels of stock and cash being kept on premises....

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Bike theft victim launches petition

November 17, 2009

A national petition has been launched to crack down on bike theft in Britain. Bike theft victim Magdalen Jagriis is fighting to put a stop to stolen bicycles being sold on auction websites. She has launched an online petition in a bid to persuade such websites to display a bike’s serial number in adverts so that police can check whether the...

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Latest electric car may be too quiet

November 17, 2009

Citroën describes its latest electric vehicle as ‘triple zero’; a reference to the fact that the C-ZERO uses no petrol or diesel, emits no CO2 at point of use and produces no noise. The four-seater, automatic-transmission city car will have a top speed of 80mph and a range of approximately 80 miles between charges. The C-Zero’s...

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The car spoiler that is solar powered

November 17, 2009

The after-market spoilers fitted to cars often have little aerodynamic benefit, but the most recent design could at least do its bit for the environment. The ‘Shelf’ is an extendable solar panel that stores away inside a rear mounted wing, which also serves to improve the car’s traction and stability. The solar panel unfolds over almost the...

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Some biofuels are twenty times worse than fossil fuels

November 16, 2009

A report by the United Nations has highlighted the danger posed to the environment by certain types of biofuel, the worst of which can emit twenty times more greenhouse gases than fossil fuels. The most environmentally-damaging type of biofuel is a biodiesel from palm oil when grown in tropical peatland forests that have been cleared for...

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Council launches cycling project

November 16, 2009

Cycling in south-east England is set to receive a boost this week when West Sussex County Council starts work to convert the A259 pavement into a shared-use cycle route. Derek Whittington, county council cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, said: “This is part of the county council’s plan to implement 20 km of new cycle...

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Dutch first in Europe for road-user charging

November 16, 2009

The Dutch will be the first in Europe to pay for the environmental impact of their motoring through a road-user charge rather than sales, fuel or road taxes. GPS technology onboard each car will track its movements before sending the data to a billing agency. When the system is introduced in 2012, the average-sized car will pay the...

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Lorries grow tails to cut their CO2 emissions

November 13, 2009

Two-metre long tapering protrusions known as ‘boat tails’ could soon be mounted on the back of lorries as a means of dramatically reducing their fuel consumption CO2 emissions. Computer modelling and wind tunnel testing of the boat tail concept was followed by a year of extensive road tests carried out by PART (Platform for Aerodynamic Road...

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Cash boost for cyclists in Blackpool

November 13, 2009

Blackpool Council is set to receive a £750,000 cash injection to boost cycling in the region. The money is being awarded as part of the government’s £10 million Cycling Demonstration Towns initiative. "By getting more people cycling, we can help tackle congestion and pollution, as well as helping to promote health and fitness," said...

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