Future of mobility
Virus lockdowns caused shift to ‘private mobility’: report
The need to avoid crowded spaces led Europeans to opt for "private mobility modes", such as cycling, walking, and private vehicles, according to the European Mobility Atlas 2021, a report analysing key facts and figures about transport in Europe.
E-scooter service providers set up EU trade group in Brussels
A new trade EU association for micro mobility services was launched on Tuesday (2 February) to unite eight e-scooter operators such as Lime and Bolt. Abandoned scooters and safety concerns are likely to top their policy agenda.
Fleet electrification would cut road transport emissions by 50%, study finds
Electrifying public and private fleets would cut around half of all road emissions in Europe, providing a major boost for the EU’s climate goal and revolutionising clean mobility in Europe, according to a new report by industry group Eurelectric and Ernst & Young (EY).
Brussels approves €2.9 billion investment into battery innovation
Twelve EU countries will jointly invest almost three billion euros into innovation in battery cell technology for electric vehicles and energy storage, cementing the EU as a “global hotspot” for battery innovation, the European Commission announced on Tuesday (26 January).
Slovakia struggles to keep pace with rapidly transforming car sector
In at least one global economic ranking, Slovakia consistently occupies first place - car production per capita. The sector accounts for 13% of Slovakia’s GDP, almost 50% of its industrial production, and 46% of the country’s exports, but this reliance is also fraught with risks, particularly in times of growing digitisation and green ambitions.
Plane power set for a defining decade
Aviation technology is due to reach new heights over the course of the next decade, as efficiency improvements, advancements in fuel development and even new forms of propulsion take to the skies. It could usher in a new age of flight.
French cycling route receives EU funds for being ’emissions-free’
The ViaRhôna, a green and heritage-filled 815-kilometre long cycling route in southeast France, has received more than €2 million in EU funds during the 2014-2020 budget period because of its environmental component. EURACTIV France reports.
European transport’s green drive on the starting line
The European Commission launched on Wednesday (9 December) its vision for how to clean up transport’s emissions act, as part of a four year action plan designed to help the bloc hit its 2050 climate-neutrality target.OpinionStakeholder Opinion
How renewable fuels in the maritime sector can support a just and inclusive energy transition
In the transport sector, the most cost-efficient climate emission reductions can be made in the maritime segment, write Loes Knotter and Eric van den Heuvel.
Jet-zero: How aviation aims to clean up its emissions act
Air travel is on the cusp of what could be a green revolution, as pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and new initiatives aimed at reducing clean power costs begin to capture attention.
LEAK: Only zero-emission cars will win EU green investment label
From January 2026, all cars sold in Europe will need to emit zero grams of CO2 per kilometre in order to be considered "sustainable" under the EU's green finance taxonomy, according to a leaked draft seen by EURACTIV.
New EU alliance aims for ‘strategic autonomy’ on key raw materials
The European Commission launched a new industry alliance on Tuesday (30 September) aimed at strengthening the EU’s “strategic autonomy” on raw materials like rare earths, which are considered key for the bloc’s green and digital transitions.
Internal combustion engine ‘not going away’, automakers say
While automakers are busy making plans to roll out electric vehicles, the existing car fleet will continue relying on traditional fuels for many years to come, the industry says, arguing in favour of biofuels to achieve CO2 cuts in the short term.
Freedom to roam – first your phone, now your car?
The European Commission has reiterated its ambition to roll out at least one million public electric vehicle charging stations over the next 5 years. But how can the EU ensure that consumers really benefit wherever they are in Europe? One of the keys to success lies in e-roaming, argues Kristof Vereenooghe.
Transport timetable: What’s moving in late 2020
Europe's transport sector, already hard hit by the coronavirus outbreak, faces a crucial and possibly defining end to 2020. EU and global targets will start to bite, while new technologies will face a challenging acid test.
UK’s next-gen warplane could tap battery power
BAE Systems, the defence company behind the British air force’s new fighter jet, has teased the prospect of electric-battery systems playing a substantial role in powering the RAF’s next-generation Tempest warplane, due to enter service in the 2030s.
Air France’s promise to nix domestic flights: Not good enough for the environment
Air France's pledge to end some of its domestic flights in return for billions of euros in government aid is a weak contribution to climate action, as weak railway infrastructure stands in the way of a plane-to-train shift. EURACTIV France reports.
Why post-Covid stimulus plans must make travel more sustainable
Stimulus plans should make mobility more sustainable, and electrifying shared rides can help, writes Maya Ben Dror.
Common rulebook on automated driving gets go-ahead
More than 50 countries, including Japan, South Korea and the EU member states, have agreed common regulations for vehicles that can take over some driving functions, including having a mandatory black box, the UN announced Thursday.
Denmark’s e-ferry passes sea trials in style
The world’s largest all-electric ferry completed 10 months of trials last week, as the EU-funded project revealed that battery-powered boats will save operators money compared to their diesel counterparts during their decades of service.
Bikes and trains, the tandem to tackle the climate crisis
Bicycles and trains have become the mobility keystone of the ‘new normal’ with great potential for the green European recovery. The EU must ensure they go hand-in-hand, according to the European Cyclists Federation.OpinionPromoted content
How will we travel tomorrow? Discover the world after COVID-19
How do we come out of this crisis as a society that has learned from its errors and difficult moments? How do we achieve balance between urgent sustainability and economic recovery?
‘Brussels has everything needed’ to be Europe’s night-train hub, say rail advocates
Belgium's capital has all the attributes needed to establish itself as Europe's hub for night-trains, according to a group in favour of resurrecting the services, which also sees the coronavirus crisis and the EU Green Deal as opportunities for rail's most romantic of journeys.