Chart of the day: Implementing world-class vehicle emissions standards would reduce transport air pollution-related mortality from approximately 270,000 deaths to 71,000 deaths in 2030 globally

January 14, 2015 at 12:34 pm

This chart comes from a report titled “The state of clean transport policy: A 2014 synthesis of vehicle and fuel policy developments” published by the International Council on Clean Transportation.

Air-pollutant emissions and public health

Exposure to outdoor air pollution resulted in 3.2 million early deaths worldwide in 2010 and ranks among the top ten health risks. Motorized transport is a major contributor to outdoor air pollution, particularly near major roadways and in urban areas with a high concentration of vehicle activity. The vast majority of health impacts from vehicle activity occur in India, China, Brazil, Mexico, and the countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Implementing world-class vehicle emissions standards would reduce transport air pollution-related mortality from approximately 270,000 deaths to 71,000 deaths in 2030 globally, with benefits that are greatly concentrated in major cities. These estimates are limited strictly to exhaust emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from light- and heavy-duty on-road vehicles in urban areas and thus represent a conservative estimate of health impacts from transport.

 

 

Image courtesy: theICCT.org

This report summarizes advances in national and international regulations intended to reduce energy use, mitigate climate change, and control air pollution from motor vehicles and fuels across eleven major vehicle markets from January 2013 through August 2014. These eleven vehicle markets—China, the U.S., the European Union, Japan, Brazil, India, Russia, Canada, South Korea, Australia, and Mexico—represented 85% of total vehicle sales in 2013. Click here to access the report and the presser.

Global Reality Check – On average, American drivers are taxed roughly 10 times less than their European counterparts for each gallon of gasoline

October 23, 2014 at 7:36 pm

Below is a tweet that got me wondering.  Despite knowing the bad status of the Highway Trust Fund, why is congress so hesitant to raise the gas tax? I’m sure many of you are left asking the same question. Several years have gone by and many transportation reauthorizations bills have been enacted since the last time we raised the gas tax (in the early 1990s). But there is still no appetite to raise the gas tax, even by a few cents (and there seems to be any sense of urgency as well).  Hopefully this trend is reversed in the upcoming re-authorization in 2015.  BTW, am I alone in thinking that this picture below also subtly answers why we love our cars so much and like to build houses far from the urban core? What would happen to our current development model/real estate practices if gasoline was taxed like how it is done in Europe?

If you get a chance, visit this brilliant website (by ARTBA), Transportation Makes America Work, to see the impact of how this current gas tax situation is affecting the nation’s progress (you can even check out the impact on your particular state’s infrastructure). Also if you are interested, you can take action by contacting your local representative right on the website (and if you are a transportation nerd like me, you can always download the app on your phone and be ready to spill the facts in any discussion).

Image courtesy: tmaw.com –

Calls for Proposals under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program

December 11, 2013 at 6:55 pm

Image Courtesy: Delegation of the European Union to the United States (EUintheUS.org)

The European Commission presented for the first time today calls for projects under Horizon 2020, the European Union’s 80 billion euro research and innovation program.  Worth more than 15 billion euros over the first two years, the funding is intended to help boost Europe’s knowledge-driven economy, and tackle issues that will make a difference in people’s lives. International cooperation is a priority in Horizon 2020 with the program open to participation of researchers from across the world, including the United States.

“It’s time to get down to business,” said European Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn. “Horizon 2020 funding is vital for the future of research and innovation in Europe, and will contribute to growth, jobs and a better quality of life. We have designed Horizon 2020 to produce results, and we have slashed red tape to make it easier to participate. So I am calling on researchers, universities, businesses including SMEs, and others to sign up!”

The European Union Ambassador to the United States, João Vale de Almeida, highlighted the strong science cooperation between the EU and the United States. “Our economic, research and innovation relationship is of vital importance and this strategy will further strengthen transatlantic cooperation,” he said. “We have some of the best researchers in the world on both sides of the Atlantic and it makes perfect sense to bring them together to tackle the common challenges that we face.”

For the first time, the Commission has indicated funding priorities over two years, providing researchers and businesses with more certainty on the direction of EU research policy. Most calls from the 2014 budget are already open for submissions as of today, with more to follow over the course of the year. Calls in the 2014 budget alone are worth around 7.8 billion euros, with funding focused on the three key pillars of Horizon 2020:

  • Excellent Science: Around 3 billion euros, including 1.7 billion euros for grants from the European Research Council for top scientists and 800 million euros for Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships for younger researchers (see MEMO/13/1123).
  • Industrial Leadership: 1.8 billion euros to support Europe’s industrial leadership in areas like ICT, nanotechnologies, advanced manufacturing, robotics, biotechnologies and space.
  • Societal challenges: 2.8 billion euros for innovative projects addressing Horizon 2020′s seven societal challenges, broadly: health; agriculture, maritime and bioeconomy; energy; transport; climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials; reflective societies; and security.

For background and more information, please see:

MEMO/13/1085: Horizon 2020 – the EU’s new research and innovation program

Horizon 2020 website

Participant portal

Submission for Transportation Research Board Special Session – Present your research in 20 slides w/ 20 secs each

November 6, 2012 at 5:06 pm

Heading to Washington, DC for the 2013 TRB Annual Meeting? Read this ASAP.

The Cities and Transportation program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in partnership with CIVITAS, a program of the European Union on sustainable urban mobility, solicits proposals for short form presentations on innovations in sustainable urban mobility. Innovations can span topics as broad as, “how I stimulated innovation in city government” to something more specific such as “how I integrated payment systems when there are multiple transit operators.”

 

Presentations will follow the Ignite or pecha kucha format of 20 slides of 20 seconds each. Presentations are timed so there is no wriggle room. The purpose of the format is to challenge speakers to distill their ideas to the most salient points and to tell a good story. Sample presentations on general topics can be found here: http://igniteshow.com/ or http://www.pecha-kucha.org/presentations/. Sample presentations on innovations in urban mobility can be found here: http://www.civitas.eu/index.php?id=186.

Interested applicants should fill out the fields shown here. Submission deadline is November 12, 2012 and selected presenters will be announced informed by e-mail on November 15. Final presenters will be listed in the TRB Annual Meeting program.

If you have any questions, please contact Shin-pei Tsay at stsay@ceip.org.

 

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When Swarms Talk to Drones – Evolution of Robotics Is Approaching Scary Levels (And It is Awesome)

October 25, 2012 at 6:15 pm

There are many exciting developments in the world of robotics and here is one from the European Union, funded under the EU’s  7th Framework Programme.  The video below shows how a drone can take over command and control responsibilities of a swarm on the ground, without any external communication channels like GPS (i.e., Spatially Targeted Communication and Self-Assembly).  Some of the example applications shown here are cool, i.e, moving chairs, bringing snacks to a guy watching TV, pushing the water container, etc.  But this one has far more devastating implications when deployed for the military in remote battlefields.

Causing a Stir – Obama’s ‘Beast’ gets tongues wagging at the green NATO summit

November 20, 2010 at 2:19 pm

(Source: AFP via Yahoo)

U.S. President Barack Obama gestures as he talks about the Opel Ampera electric car as Opel Vice President Volker Hoff (R) and General Motors Portugal Managing Director Guillermo Sarmiento (C) look on at the NATO Summit in Lisbon November 20, 2010. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

The Portuguese hosts of Friday’s NATO summit hoped to use the event to promote clean-energy and electric cars, but all eyes were on US President Barack Obama’s diesel-guzzling “Beast” instead.

As is usual when he travels, Obama’s eight-tonne armoured behemoth of a limousine was flown out to Lisbon before the US leader’s arrival, and it ferried him from the airport tarmac to his first meetings of the weekend.

Doubtless he didn’t intend the Beast’s roar to drown out his hosts’ green message, but a US presidential motorcade and its attendant escort of Secret Service SUVs do attract attention, even at the most elite gatherings.

Click here to read the entire article

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Event Alert: 16th ITS World Congress — Sept 21-25, 2009 @ Stockholm, Sweden

August 11, 2009 at 3:33 pm

ITS 2009 - Stockholm

ITS World Congresses gather some 5,000 participants from around the world looking to share experiences and build networks. As a decision-maker, manufacturer, supplier or consultant within the private or public sector, the World Congress is an opportunity for you to learn more about what ITS can do to improve the efficiency of your operations. What’s more, it is an excellent opportunity to show the general public how ITS can help them in their daily lives.

Delegates will include representatives from:

  • International organisations and national governments
  • Regional, local and municipal authorities
  • Security and safety organisations
  • CEOs from industry
  • Equipment manufacturers and suppliers
  • Service developers and service providers
  • Software developers and systems integrators
  • Automotive and industrial designers
  • Public transport and freight operators
  • ITS project management and financiers
  • ITS consultancies and advisors
  • ITS users and members organisations
  • Public interest groups and press

There will also be an opportunity for the public to visit the Exhibition and demonstration sites on the last day of the World Congress in Stockholm.

The Congress format consists of several different types of sessions.  Along with the traditional types of sessions (Plenary, Executive, Special Interest and Technical/Scientific), this year the Congress organizers are introducing the two new formats: Interactive Sessions and Lunchtime Debates.  Sessions typically last 90 minutes.

The Exhibit Hall provides a venue for public sector organizations and private sector vendors to show off their latest technology.  The Exhibit Hall will be open to Congress delegates September 22-25; on Friday, September 25, it will also be open to the public.

The 2009 ITS World Congress will also feature four demonstration sites where Congress delegates can watch ITS in action: one is located inside the Exhibit Hall, two are located just outside the building in the parking lot, and one is accessible by shuttle bus.  Congress delegates can also go on any of 11 technical visits to see ITS in action in and around Stockholm.

Social events include receptions on Monday (September 21) and Tuesday (September 22) evenings and a gala dinner Wednesday (September 23) evening in Stockholm City Hall, famous as the location where Nobel Prizes are awarded.

Preliminary Programme now available

Registration Fees

Registration information, including fees, is now available on the Congress website and published in the Preliminary Programme. Registration is now open. Click here to register.

Standard Rates


(payment received from 25 July 2009)

Early Payment Rates

(payment received by 24 July 2009)

Group Discount Rate

(15 or more)

Ticket Type Duration Inc. VAT Net Inc. VAT Net Inc. VAT Net
Speaker/Moderator Full Event €1,062.50 €850.00 €900.00 €720.00 €871.25 €697.00
Speaker/Moderator 1 Day €625.00 €500.00 €537.50 €430.00 €512.50 €410.00
Student Speaker/Moderator Full Event €437.50 €350.00 €375.00 €300.00 €358.75 €287.00
Delegate Full Event €1,400.00 €1,120.00 €1,187.50 €950.00 €1,148.00 €918.40
Delegate 1 Day €837.50 €670.00 €712.50 €570.00 €686.75 €549.40
Exhibitor/Sponsor Delegate Full Event €1,187.50 €950.00 €1,012.50 €810.00 €973.75 €779.00
Student Delegate Full Event €437.00 €350.00 €375.00 €300.00 €358.75 €287.00
Swedish Public Sector Full Event €1,125.00 €900.00 €962.50 €770.00 €922.50 €738.00
Accompanying Person Full Event Free Free Free Free Free Free
Press Full Event Free Free Free Free Free Free
Exhibition Visitor (pre registered) Full Event Free Free Free Free Free Free

Publication on the event CD Rom, presentation of papers, as well as Special Interest Session organisation are subject to the authors/ speakers/moderators registration and payment by 3rd August 2009.

Official event publications and website

The Preliminary Programme has already been circulated. The Final Programme will be distributed at the event. Information will be updated on the event website at regular intervals.

To ensure you are on the mailing list, please email r.gardner@hgluk.com your full contact details.

For all other event related information, please visit the ITS World Congress website.

Fiat woos German ministers in attempt to take control of Opel

May 3, 2009 at 9:53 pm

(Source: Timesonline, UK)

Fiat last night set out its blueprint to reshape the global car industry, outlining plans to spin off a new company that will include General Motors’ European business and Chrysler.

 The Italian car manufacturer meets German ministers today to set out a plan that would bring GM’s Vauxhall, Saab and Opel into a company with Fiat’s core car marques, including Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari.

The company said last night that the possible new company, which would be floated, would have revenues of €80 billion (£71 billion) and an output of between six million and seven millon vehicles a year, which Fiat believes will give it the necessary scale to weather the crisis besetting the automotive industry. The proposed company would be the second largest car group in the world.

In Britain, unions have hinted that a Fiat takeover of Vauxhall would put at risk 5,000 jobs at Luton and in Cheshire. GM employs 300,000 workers worldwide.

GM has struggled to find a buyer for its non-core businesses as it seeks to avoid following Chrysler into bankruptcy. But Fiat faces some German opposition over its ownership of Opel, GM’s German subsidiary.

Sergio Marchionne, the chief executive of Fiat, will today meet the Economy Minister and the Foreign Minister of Germany. Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, the Economy Minister, warned that the German Government required a long-term strategy.

In an interview with a German newspaper, he said: “We will not enter into any financial adventure with taxpayer money. The concept must clearly show that Opel plants in Europe that are to be kept open will be secured over the long term.”

Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has suggested the German Government could offer loan gaurantees to help safeguard jobs at Opel.

Fiat wants to acquire Opel after its eleventh-hour deal last Thursday to buy an initial 20 per cent of Chrysler. The company believes that it needs a partner to reach the scale of production necessary to weather the crisis besetting the motor industry.

Fiat’s overtures to Opel quickly follow its agreement to enter a partnership with Chrysler after it emerges from bankruptcy. Fiat will share its fuel-efficient technology in return for gaining a stake that will eventually turn into a majority holding in the company. Chrysler filed for bankruptcy after creditors refused to accept a restructuring deal.

In its desperation to avoid following Chrysler into administration, GM has been attempting to offload its unprofitable, non-core assets.

Get your Geld ready: Germany issues final draft on CO2-based taxes

March 9, 2009 at 2:07 pm

(Source: Autobloggreen)

Changing the road tax legislation in Germany wasn’t an easy thing to do. Here’s how the new tax works, starting July 1st:  

 

First, there’s a base tax based on displacement: €2 per each 100 cubic centimeters if it’s a gasoline car or €9.5 if it’s a diesel car. Additional taxes are based on CO2: for each gram over 120 that your car emits per kilometer, your tax will be increased by €2. That COlimit will drop to 110 grams in 2012 and, from 2014 onwards, it will be 95 grams. So, for example, the new Toyota IQ 1.33, which emits 113 gm/km. The 1.3-liter gas engine will be taxed at 13 * 2 = €26 and the number will stay the same until 2012. At that time, its owner will be charged an extra €6 additional (€32 in total) because 113-110 = 3 grams at €2 each. Then, in 2014, the tax will be even higher: 113-95 = 18 grams, at €2 each, €36 additional (€62 total). I’ll let you do the math with a Porsche Cayenne S.
Click here to read the entire article