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Volvo have announced that their new C30 will have far better fuel efficiency, all thanks to a few common sense, low-tech design features.

The diesel C30 will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, and is claimed to achieve an impressive 52.26 mpg.

In order to get this figure that high Volvo used low-friction transmission oil, tweaked the engine management software, added higher gearing in 3rd, 4th and 5th, fitted low rolling resistance tires and aerodynamically smoothed all parts of the body.

In essence, they didn't do much at all. Every car manufacturer could, and should, be doing this to every single car they make.

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The first commercial car to be powered by compressed air could be about to hit the production lines, as Indian automaker Tata Motors prepares to build ex-Formula One engineer Guy Nègre's design.

We're not certain if it's the same air car that we hit just under three years ago, but if it is, it's about time! The City Cat runs on nothing but compressed air -- which can be refueled at "air stations," and overnight using a built-in compressor -- with a not too shabby top speed of 68MPH and a range of 125 miles.

The Air Car designers are working on a hybrid version that can compress air while it's operating, potentially making cross-India journeys possible: Toyota Prius, eat your hybrid heart out.

As EcoGeek points out, the game ain't up just yet for completely emissions free travel since the problem of the source of the electricity (usually acquired from fossil fuels) has yet to be solved. Plus, the fugly design really doesn't do it any favours: why does "green" have to mean "gah?"

VIA 

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General Motors Corp. may build as many as 60,000 of its Volt electric cars for their inaugural year on the market, four times the sales of Toyota Motor Corp.'s hybrid Prius in its U.S. debut, people with knowledge of GM's plans said.

Production at that level may allow GM to sell the plug-in Volt for less than $30,000, said the people, who didn't want to be identified because the plans are confidential.

Toyota's Prius can be bought for $22,175.

A high-volume debut for the Volt is designed to go 40 miles without recharging.

Toyota has sold more than 800,000 Priuses, and the hybrid helped the Toyota City, Japan-based automaker earn a record $14 billion in its last fiscal year. GM lost $1.98 billion in 2006.

Demand for cars less reliant on gasoline is growing as automakers face stricter emissions rules around the world and the U.S. tries to cut its dependence on imported oil.

The Volt is charged at a household outlet and uses an on- board engine to generate electricity when the battery runs down during travel. The engine, powered by gasoline, diesel or a hydrogen fuel cell, only recharges the battery and doesn't drive the wheels. Its full range is about 640 miles on a tank of gasoline, about double the range of a typical car or truck.

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A test run of traffic controls to clear Beijing's smoggy skies for next year's Olympic Games successfully improved air quality, conditions were "fairly good" despite a constant gray haze.

Air pollution has emerged as a key problem for Beijing as it gears up for the Olympics. International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge warned during a visit earlier this month that some Olympic competitions might be postponed if the city did not clean up the pollution.

The traffic ban removed 1.3 million private vehicles from Beijing's perpetually gridlocked streets each day. Additional buses and subways were added as residents turned to public transportation, car pools and taxis for their commutes.

Cars with even-numbered license plates were ordered off roads on Friday and Sunday, and vehicles with odd-numbered plates were banned Saturday and Monday. Emergency vehicles, taxis, buses and other public-service vehicles were exempt.

Beijing had an air pollution index of between 93 and 95 during the test days, the city's environmental protection bureau said on its Web site. By Tuesday morning, the index had climbed to between 90 and 120. Any reading over 100 is considered polluted.

Beijing is particularly focused on combatting particle pollution, which can cause breathing problems and reduced visibility. That pollution is caused by emissions from power plants, diesel engines and wind-blown dust. High ozone levels, which occur on sunny days when nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons emitted by car tailpipes, power plants and factories react in the air, are also a problem.

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Is it a taxi? Is it a train? Actually it is a bit of both. Technically speaking it is a personal rapid transport system, a new hybrid form of transport that some have already taken to calling the podcar. Similar systems have been proposed before and failed to make it into development, despite some less-personal versions built in the 1970s in the US. But with the current desire for low-carbon transit as keen as ever, has the time finally arrived for this kind of low-emission people mover?

SkyCab is a new "green" intelligent transportation system. SkyCab has no drivers (automatic) and no pollution. The SkyCab Project is working in a network with international relations together with several cities, R&D institutions and an industrial group.

The aim of the SkyCab Project is to supplement buses, (local) trains and undergrounds with a convenient, non-polluting and cost effective new innovative form of public transport, a personalized rapid transit system.

A SkyCab vehicle runs on guide ways 4 to 5 meters above ground level in a comprehensive network and it can accommodate up to four passengers on each individual journey. The system operates day and night in any weather (even snow and ice). It has no timetable restrictions and transports the passengers to their selected station without intermediate stops. ......................................................................................................................

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Mayor Bloomberg in New York is proposing a congestion charge which will be lesser for hybrid vehicles.

On a smaller scale, some boroughs in Britain have now also started penalizing the more polluting cars. Bolstered by the London borough of Islington, the Borough of Lambeth has now established bands for the different cars. A 4x4 would now pay up to 74% more for its permit (up to about $400), whilst the least polluting cars, such as electric cars would pay up to 74% less (about $60).

Richmond was the first council to introduce a scheme whereunder owners of the most polluting cars pay more for their parking permits. Other London councils, including Hackney , Lambeth and Islington were soon to follow suit and adopted the same concept.

Unfortunately the money is not recycled into green initiatives: it will be used to fund road safety and travel cards for the elderly.

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