How to make Europe’s cities more liveable for people – not cars

To achieve deep and permanent cuts in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, cars must become the exception in cities, not the rule. Bold political action will be needed at local, regional, national and European levels, argues Lorelei Limousin.

Over a Coffee with Alex Rogers, Executive Vice President of Qualcomm

Over A Coffee with Alex Rogers, Executive Vice President of Qualcomm, and President of Qualcomm Technology Licensing A recent Accenture study on the impact of 5G in the European economy reports that 5G will drive up to €2.0 trillion in...

Urban air taxis will be a reality ‘within three to five years’, EU regulator says

Futuristic aircraft such as air taxis and ambulances will be in flight above European cities within three to five years according to the chief of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), bringing the science-fiction prospect of flying cars a step closer to reality.

RED III: Europe’s reality check

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Transport is responsible for 27% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU and several pieces of legislation have failed to bring about major changes. The EU executive has already admitted that by 2030, oil will still drive Europe’s cars....

Spain’s car industry eyes extension of furlough schemes to save jobs

The Spanish car industry is mulling extending temporary lay-off schemes known as ERTEs currently due to expire at the end of the month until at least next September to mitigate the pandemic’s negative impact on the sector. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.

Digital solutions can stem the economic toll of road congestion, official says

Digitalising European roads will save lives, reduce harmful polluting emissions, and cut down the “pure economic waste” caused by traffic congestion, according to an EU official.

EU official: Road digitalisation will lead to safer and greener highways

EU funding is supporting member states to integrate digital technology into European highways, making travelling by road smarter. Intelligent Transport Systems have the potential to increase road safety and efficiency, cutting emissions and potentially saving lives, says Pieropaolo Tona.

Hyperloop eyes EU transport funding in bid to go mainstream

Probably more than a few eyebrows were raised in December 2020 when the Hyperloop was included in the EU's mobility strategy, tipped in the document as a technology Europeans can expect to see coming “in the near future”.

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.

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.