Future of mobility
Pressure on Commission ahead of decision on connected car technology
Pressure is mounting on the European Commission ahead of a decision it is expected to announce this autumn that will affect how internet-connected cars are built in Europe.
EU connected cars plan sparks national backlash
A niche policy fight over the technical groundwork for internet-connected cars has pitted car companies against telecoms operators and also set off alarm bells in a handful of EU capitals.
MEP on connected car fight: Commission should focus on safety standards, not technology
The European Commission wants future connected vehicles to be able to run both on 5G and Wifi networks, claiming its upcoming legal proposal will remain "technology neutral". But a leading lawmaker warns this will in effect give preference to one technology over another.
What’s driving Europe’s strategy on connected cars?
Throughout its four years in office, the Juncker Commission has promoted connected and automated cars and encouraged industry groups to invest more in developing the technologies. EURACTIV looks at what it has achieved.
Clean transport boosts mobility, environment, local labour markets
Big vehicle manufacturing companies have committed to investing more in clean buses for European cities, Alain Van Gaever, DG Mobility and Transport at the European Commission, told a conference on clean transport in Brussels on Wednesday (27 June).
Europe grapples with policy patchwork to tackle air pollution
The patchwork of measures to fight air pollution currently in place across European cities is not only inefficient but sometimes counter-productive, said participants at a EURACTIV event on Tuesday (26 June).
Europe’s cities need to start delivering smart mobility
European cities are currently toying with various types of urban vehicle access restrictions. Though these cities mean well, such restrictions are burdensome and come at a cost for motorists, so smart mobility measures need to be proposed instead, writes Laurianna Krid.
Palm oil to be phased out in EU by 2030
The use of palm oil as fuel should disappear in Europe by 2030 under a reform of the bloc’s renewable energy laws agreed this morning after all-night negotiations.
Uber’s European chief: ‘Resetting the moral compass is part of our change’
Following a difficult year that brought a new CEO at the helm, Uber is serious about listening to its drivers and policymakers, Pierre Dimitri Gore-Coty told EURACTIV. Now the company aims at becoming a multimodal mobility platform, integrating bike sharing services or public transports.
Europe’s attempts to spark an electric vehicle revolution
Transport is one of the EU’s few sectors where emissions are actually growing. Brussels believes that electric vehicle uptake is one of the main solutions to halt this trend but what steps are being taken to decarbonise our roads?
Ridesharing in Estonia
As Europe looks for models to facilitate a peaceful coexistence between taxi drivers and new ride-sharing platforms, like Uber or Taxify, Estonia offers a valid solution for both the traditional transport providers and the newcomers to share the market, while ensuring that the new digital ecosystem does not hamper consumers’ rights.
How Europe can regain industrial championship in clean mobility
Chinese manufacturers have built an impressive production network in Europe and are winning pure electric car and bus tenders in cities like Turin, Amsterdam and London. In Europe, the Clean Vehicles Directive can help make up for the time lost, argues Claude Turmes.
Uber loses EU court case against French criminal charges
France is entitled to bring criminal proceedings against local managers of ride-hailing app Uber for running an illegal taxi service, the EU top court ruled on Tuesday, dealing the Silicon Valley start-up another legal setback.
Cities’ backlash against big tech is only starting
American tech giants like Google and Uber are facing backlash from regulators across Europe---and increasingly from city governments.
Sharing is caring. So why are European cities falling behind?
New mobility services like Uber and Lyft offer the potential to get cities moving, improve quality of life and reduce emissions. But this will only happen if new and traditional mobility services can be integrated to make a more attractive offering that finally persuades drivers out of their cars, write Greg Archer and Yoann Le Petit.
EU hopes to avoid 1,500 deaths per year with eCall system
From 31 March, all new cars will have to be equipped with the new European eCall device, which automatically calls 112 in the event of a serious traffic accident
Gas chief: ‘We expect at least 10% of the car market in 2030’
Just as Europe is engaging in a fierce race to electrify transport, makers of natural gas vehicles are coming out with bullish projections, saying they expect their car fleet in Europe to multiply tenfold to 13 million vehicles in 2030 – a 10% market share that could reach 20-30% for trucks and buses.
Will road vehicle automation help solve urban transport problems?
Vehicle automation has received much attention worldwide. But EU policymakers are not giving enough attention to the impact automated vehicles may have on sustainable mobility policy, therefore turning opportunities for automation into threats, writes Karen Vancluysen.
The great European fuel shift?
Europe’s electricity industry appears to have come to terms with the reality that wind and solar power will be central to a shift away from fossil fuels, especially coal-fired power generation. Now policy makers in Brussels are swivelling the spotlight towards transport, and the biggest fossil fuel of all: oil.
Connected cars – Driving SME competition through direct data access
Digital devices have already transformed the way of life. Now, with automated transport on the horizon, will it be possible to sustain a vibrant landscape of competitive automotive SMEs in Europe in the future? Sylvia Gotzen provides an insight.
Divisions over proposal to end Eurovignette system
The European Parliament could pass a law on the compulsory replacement of the Eurovignette, by a system of tolls, despite the reluctance of Member States. EURACTIV.fr reports
Polish exec: Electro-Mobility Act creates whole ecosystem for EVs
Poland formally adopted its first Electro-Mobility Act on Monday (5 February), a document branded as a new “constitution” for the development of electric cars and buses in the coal-dependent country.
Germany’s ‘green’ energy production up 1,000% since 1990
Since 1990, the production of "green" electricity in Germany has increased by 1,000% and export rates, according to preliminary data for 2017, just smashed another record. EURACTIV Poland’s partner WysokieNapiecie.pl reports.