Air Quality & Weather Systems

Cenex and the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership have updated their Low Emission Van Guide and accompanying Van Cost and Carbon Calculator (VC3) to provide fleet managers and policy makers with the very latest data on how to make cost and CO2 emissions savings. The Low Emission Van Guide is aimed at operators of small-to-medium sized fleets of commercial vehicles (up to 3.5t gross vehicle weight). Twelve months after its initial launch the Guide has been updated to reflect a changing market, including new to

Commuters heading north on Wellington’s urban motorway will now get a smoother trip as the new lane is fully opened and New Zealand’s first smart motorway is turned on in the northbound direction. Using variable speed limits, which will be adjusted in real time in response to changing traffic conditions, the smart motorway will pace vehicles to smooth the traffic flow. Officials say this will result in safer journeys with more predictable travel times. It will also free up nearby roads for better public

Speaking at the FIA summer cocktail party, European Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska compared the emissions defeat device scandal to the banking crisis and proposed a three step programme to ensure that market confidence is restored. She insisted on the need for the auto industry to show all their cards so that constructive progress could be made. Her plans include the need to reform the EU's type-approval and market surveillance system. She also endorsed long-term investment in a low-carbon transport syst

New Zealand companies HMI Technologies and rental car company GO Rentals are trialling a real time traffic information system in 50 rental cars travelling between Christchurch and Queenstown. RouteTIP roadside beacons send simple, location-specific messages to the hands-free RouteTIP app on the user’s smartphone to provide drivers with information on hazards and traffic congestion ahead, alerts about road conditions, reminders of speed restrictions, journey time information and much more.

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute has published a new report, Transportation emissions in the context of emissions from other economic sectors: 1990-2014, which examines long-term trends in the contribution of transportation to total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, in the context of the other sources of emissions (industry, commercial, residential, and agriculture). Also of interest in this study are the relative contributions of various transportation modes, bo

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute has published a new report, Transportation emissions in the context of emissions from other economic sectors: 1990-2014, which examines long-term trends in the contribution of transportation to total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, in the context of the other sources of emissions (industry, commercial, residential, and agriculture). Also of interest in this study are the relative contributions of various transportation modes, bo

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute has published a new report, Transportation emissions in the context of emissions from other economic sectors: 1990-2014, which examines long-term trends in the contribution of transportation to total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, in the context of the other sources of emissions (industry, commercial, residential, and agriculture). Also of interest in this study are the relative contributions of various transportation modes, bo

TomTom City, a new traffic portal launched by TomTom, provides live traffic and travel information, including real time traffic status, delay hotspots and road event reporter, for consumers and traffic management experts. TomTom City, which can be found at http://city.tomtom.com, is accessible from any internet enabled computer, tablet or smartphone and provides freely accessible content showing live traffic status and incidents and other driver-based information in cities. This will enable consumers to

Traffic information company Travel for Media has been chosen as traffic data supplier for Radioplayer’s new in-car hybrid radio solution for delivery of traffic services and reduction of driver distraction. Radioplayer Car will be available over the coming weeks as a smart digital upgrade for older car stereos. The system chooses the best platform for any given radio station, delivering it to the vehicle using DAB, FM or streaming, meaning drivers keep hearing their chosen station in maximum quality a