Solar powered road studs currently in use in the Vale of Glamorgan, have won the prestigious title of ‘Road Marking Project of the Year’ in the 2008 Highways Excellence Awards.

Developed by Astucia Traffic Safety Systems, the ‘Smart’ road studs have already proved their worth, helping to reducing casualty rates by 72 per cent compared with three years ago on an infamous accident blackspot.

The road studs were installed on the A4226, known locally as The Five Mile Lane, a narrow, winding country road between Barry and Cardiff International Airport. Council studies had previously showed that night-time accident rates were particularly high on the road and they were keen to find ways increase night visibility on the road.

The advantage they found with the Astucia SolarLite road studs, is that they store solar energy during the day, with built-in light emitting diodes automatically illuminating the road ahead from dusk to dawn, marking the road for up to 900 metres ahead, providing drivers with ten times greater illumination than traditional studs.

While the traditional reflective, passive ‘cats-eye’ stud, which was invented over 70 years ago, relies on light reflected from an approaching car’s headlamps and has a maximum range of 90 metres or less.
Ian Johnson, senior traffic officer for Vale of Glamorgan Council advised: “We are continually striving to reduce the number of accidents on our roads. We are therefore highly pleased that the installation of the Astucia intelligent road studs along with the other safety measures that we have put in place have significantly reduced the number of accidents on this busy stretch of road.”

Norway could be looking to outlaw polluting cars.

According to ENDS Europe – a publication of European environmental news- Norwegian minister for the environment, Erik Solheim is considering banning ‘tens of thousands’ of the most polluting cars.

In a bid to meet the country’s ruthless target of cutting CO2 emissions by 30 per cent compared to 1990 levels by 2020, the minister has vowed to do whatever it takes.

Accordingly, he has requested the country’s pollution control authority (SFT) to investigate appropriate measures to achieve this goal. Norway also aims to be carbon neutral by 2050.

Other measures could include building homes heated solely by electricity and forcing the public sector to operate electric vehicles instead of conventionally fuelled motors.

Electric cars may finally start to become a more practical solution outside of London thanks to a scheme to introduce on street charging in Brighton and Hove.

The project costing £30,000 could be extending across the country if the pilot proves a success, reports local newspaper, The Argus.

Brighton and Hove was selected from 40 other councils which bid for Civitas (CIty-VITAlity-Sustainability) EC initiative money designed to encourage sustainable transport developments.

The grant will result in ten on-street charging points being installed.

Calvey Taylor-Haw, managing director of Brighton-based Elektromotive Ltd, who provide electric car recharging stations told The Argus;

“If the public start to believe the infrastructure is coming through, they will have more confidence to buy electric cars.

Adding “It is exciting times for electric cars.”

After achieving success stateside with the Ford Escape Hybrid, Ford has plans to add more hybrid models to its range for the 2010 model year.

The green cars making their debut next spring will be hybrid versions of the Fusion and Mercury Milan models. These are expected to beat the Toyota Camry Hybrid by at least 5mpg as they attempt to break the stranglehold Toyota has locked on America’s car buying public.

As an added bonus the 3.0 litre model will also be flex-fuel and can run on E85, helping Ford to deliver on an earlier pledge to double annual production of vehicles capable of running on renewable fuels by 2010. 

So just what fuel-saving technology does the new Fusion include?

Well, the vehicle will include electric power steering (EPS) with energy consumption typically seven per cent less than that of a conventional hydraulic rack. It will also feature aggressive deceleration fuel shut-off for an efficiency improvement of approximately one per cent.

The new hybrid system is undoubtedly the environmental highlight however. The Fusion and Milan hybrids support operation in all-electric mode at speeds up to 47mph with a nickel-metal hydride battery adapted to produce 20 per cent more power.  

In addition the system includes a new high-efficiency converter that provides a 14 per cent increase in output; a smarter climate control system that only runs the engine as needed to heat the cabin; a regenerative braking system with nearly 94 per cent energy recovery; and an improved brake system.

If asked to name the epicentre of America’s green car push, most would rightfully highlight California. However, in recent months Oregon has emerged as an electric car frontrunner in its own right.

Not only has the city of Portland shown a lot of forward thinking towards sustainability, and even expressed an interest in bringing Chinese automaker BYD Auto to the city, but now Oregon City, a suburb south of Portland has unveiled its own kerbside charging station.

To mark the occasion resident Mark Mongillo plugged in his converted electric Fiat as the foundations for growth in electric car infrastructure were laid. The charging station, built by Shorepower Technologies of Portland, is one of four that have been installed in the region and can charge up to four electric cars at once using 120V plugs. At that rate it would take around four hours to complete a full charge – meaning most users would perhaps go on a shopping trip or go for a coffee while they wait for their vehicles to be ready.

The scene at the unveiling of the station was, by all accounts, something to behold. A small crowd gathered to watch as Mongillo plugged his electric car into the seven-foot station. They waited for a noise… or a light… but no, nothing came. Instead Mongillo simply remarked ‘it’s working’ and some light applause broke out.

While electric cars may be close to silent it’s clear there is a lot of noise about their future in Oregon.

 Whether a valid point or a sign of desperation the manager of struggling automaker Ford’s truck division, has launched a scathing attack on his competitors following Chrysler’s hybrid truck losses.

The race is already on among manufacturers to produce green cars, and now GM and Chrysler are attempting to forge ahead with the creation of more fuel efficient trucks – with hybrid models being created.

However, Ford, which creates the best-selling F150 truck, has thus far resisted temptation to move into the hybrid truck sector and during a recent interview with Automotive News, Doug Scott, Ford’s truck marketing manager, blasted his competitors’ efforts as a ‘publicity stunt’.

He states that their efforts are much like the Tahoe and Yukon hybrid SUV models – they’re not about sales, it’s just something to advertise.

By contrast, he believes that Ford’s EcoBoost technology is a better alternative – the direct injection technology produces 20 per cent better fuel economy and 15 per cent less carbon dioxide (CO2) according to Ford’s claims.

Ford is convinced that direct injection technology will be enough to satisfy consumer demand. However, Chrysler remains undeterred and says its plans for hybrid SUVs and trucks will continue.

With the automotive industry so clearly divided on the subject of hybrid technology in trucks we want to know what you think of the idea? Is it just a gimmick or are they a long-term solution? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

 Honda’s plan to introduce advanced diesel cars in the USA and Japan has hit a roadblock due to the ongoing economic downturn.

A report from the Nikkei suggests that Honda Motor Corporation will delay its introduction of the vehicles until 2010 at the earliest predominantly due to fears about keeping prices down.

The company has been forced to adjust its original launch target of next year because even though prices of platinum and many other precious metals have plunged, its diesel models are still expected to have high costs. Therefore the manufacturer is attempting to develop a catalytic technology that uses much less platinum.

It’s difficult to imagine a time when diesel cars are deemed a cheaper alternative to petroleum but Honda had hoped to lower prices close to those of petrol powered models. Now however, the price gap between the fuels has narrowed making diesel cars seem less economical than before and forcing a rethink from the Japanese carmaker. 

 After the UK announced plans to dedicate £100 million to the development of green cars, it seems the rest of Europe may soon follow suit.

Speaking at a news conference in Brussels, Belgium, European Union (EU) industry commissioner Guenter Verheugen said the European Investment Bank may be able to help the car industry with loans to develop greener cars in an effort to meet EU targets.

Verheugen stated that it was important the extra effort was made to reduce lower emissions but that this should not be settled through subsidies. However, he did say that the car manufacturers should have proper access to credit and that the necessary subsidies could be provided via the European Investment Bank.

The commissioner’s comments were welcomed by most industry analysts with many leading figures openly stating that loans would be needed if the manufacturers are to reach their targets.

The head of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) Christian Streiff stated that low-interest loans of €40 billion will be needed to help develop green cars.

Do you think money should be poured into the development of green cars given the current economic climate? Let us know your thoughts with a comment below.

The European Commission’s motor industry regulator, CAR 21 (Competitve Automotive Regulatory System for the 21st Century) met in Brussels yesterday to discuss ways to encourage motor manufacturers to keep producing ever-greener cars.

While the industry across Europe is experiencing a downturn in trade, major manufacturers have cut production, financial forecasts have been scaled back and some French and German factories have temporally closed, the EU has conceded that something needs to be done to secure the future of Europe’s auto manufacturers and keep them on track to deliver cuts in emissions.

The conference comes as the EU debates legislation to cut car emissions, aiming for a target of 130g/km CO2 emissions standard by 2012. The EU has promised to establish a task force to promote the production of greener cars.

Additionally CARS 21 will look to promote jobs security, maintain the competitiveness of the European car industry (the world’s largest producer of motor vehicles) and establish Europe as a global leader in clean, safe and affordable vehicles.

The task force will bring together all the relevant stakeholders to explore the technical, regulatory and economic hurdles to delivering this goal.

EC Vice-President Günter Verheugen, responsible for enterprise and industry policy said;

“Caring about the European car industry means caring about millions of present and future jobs in the EU. It also means caring about clean and affordable cars to responds to the right to mobility in an environmental friendly way. Responding to stakeholders concerns now, will help us to find the most appropriate answer and to turn the current crisis into a chance.”

 You’ve read about them… and now you could be among the first to drive them. The UK Government is recruiting ordinary drivers to test green cars as it attempts to examine ways to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint.

Around 100 people will be taken on to examine the reality of using electric cars on a day to day basis. Some of them will drive conventional electric cars with limited range that are used predominantly in town, while others will take on plug-in hybrids that use both an electric and petrol engine to travel greater distances.

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, the motorists will be drawn from a cross section of the population and will include families who may use the car on the school run, low mileage motorists who drive predominantly in town and those who drive longer distances such as sales representatives who will use the vehicles as part of their work.

The concept is part of the Government’s £100 million investment into putting Britain at the forefront of a green car motoring revolution, as outlined in Faye Sunderland’s article ‘UK government commits to electric revolution‘ posted earlier this week.

With the European Union heaping pressure on car makers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions it is expected that there will be a huge influx of hybrid and electric models on to the UK market and the tests are seen as way of drumming up interest in reducing emissions alongside making savings on fuel costs.

The programme will examine not only consumer feedback but the implications of a surge of plug-in car use, such as the impact on the National Grid.