Environment, Parts and Pollution

New analysis suggests Uber adding significantly to pollution and traffic in European cities

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 23, 2019

Uber is adding more polluting car trips to already-clogged European cities such as London and Paris, new analysis by European NGOs suggests —contributing to air pollution and climate change and exploding the company’s sustainability claims. Source: “Europe’s giant ‘taxi’ company: is Uber part of the problem or the solution?”.

Pollution

Pollution Taxi London San Francisco

Study: plant roadside hedges rather than trees to combat near-road pollution

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 6, 2019

Urban planners should plant hedges—or a combination of trees with hedges—rather than just relying on roadside trees if they are most effectively to reduce pollution exposure from cars in near-road environments, according to a new study from the University of Surrey.

Pollution

Pollution Wind Environment Green

EEA: Traffic pollution still harmful to health in many parts of Europe

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 27, 2012

Trend in emissions of air pollutants from transport in EEA-32: PM 2.5 , CO, SO x , NMVOC, NO x. Transport in Europe is still responsible for damaging levels of air pollutants and a quarter of EU greenhouse gas emissions, despite some progress in reducing the impacts from transport. Source: EEA. Click to enlarge. road fleet in 2010.

Pollution

Pollution Europe Parts 2010

Air pollutant emission 2010 limits exceeded in twelve EU Member States; road transport NOx a main factor

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 22, 2012

Twelve European Union Member States exceeded one or more of the emission limits set by the EU National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive, according to recent official data for 2010 reported to the European Environment Agency (EEA). These pollutants contribute to health problems and can also lead to economic losses and environmental damage.

Pollution

Pollution 2010 Liechtenstein Emissions

Study finds automobile tires are a potential source of carcinogenic dibenzopyrenes to the environment

Green Car Congress

MARCH 10, 2012

A new study by researchers from Stockholm University concludes that automobile tires may be a potential previously unknown source of carcinogenic dibenzopyrenes—a type of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)—to the environment. Automobile tire rubber in general consists of approximately 40?60%

Environment

Environment Automobile Exhaust Oil

Motherson Group collaborating with UBQ to bring carbon-negative thermoplastics into auto parts

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

The companies are joining efforts to implement the carbon-negative UBQ thermoplastic ( earlier post ) into auto parts manufactured by Motherson Group for the automotive industry. Adding as little as 10% UBQ GHG to a part can immediately transform it into a carbon-neutral product. Polymers typically emit 1.9

Parts

Parts Carbon Auto Polymer

Poor air quality to remain a problem in India despite pollution control policies

Green Car Congress

APRIL 1, 2019

According to an independent study by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), more than 674 million Indian citizens are likely to breathe air with high concentrations of PM 2.5 The program focuses on 102 polluted Indian cities and aims to reduce PM 2.5

Pollution

Pollution India Emissions 2015

Cornell team develops computationally efficient machine learning models for hyperlocal models of PM2.5 concentrations

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 17, 2023

Cornell engineers have developed machine learning models to simplify and reinforce models to calculate the fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) contained in urban air pollution. Previous methods to gauge air pollution were cumbersome and reliant on extraordinary amounts of data points. MRE for the single hidden layer model, the 63.2%

Pollution

Pollution New York Transportation Environment

Delhi startup develops air-purifying motorcycle helmet

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 29, 2022

An anti-pollution helmet developed by a Delhi-based startup can help 2-wheeler riders breathe cleaner air. kg helmet ensures exposure reduction by more than 80% as measured using a controlled environment. For the next version, Shellios will tie up with top tier-2-wheeler OEMs for the commercialization of the anti-pollution helmet.

Motorcycles

Motorcycles Li-ion Pollution Cleaner

EEA report finds more action needed to protect Europe’s most vulnerable citizens from air pollution, noise and extreme temperatures

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 5, 2019

A new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) warns that the health of Europe’s most vulnerable citizens remains disproportionately affected by environmental hazards such as air and noise pollution and extreme temperatures, especially in Europe’s eastern and southern regions, despite overall improvements in Europe’s environmental quality.

Pollution

Pollution Bulgaria Greece Portugal

Two-year study in Canada finds large trucks disproportionately contribute to higher levels of black carbon pollution

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

Researchers found that air pollution levels right beside a major trucking route within a city were close to levels seen beside Highway 401, despite the road carrying less than one-tenth of the vehicle traffic. Research consistently links traffic emissions to negative effects on both the environment and human health. Jonathan M.

Pollution

Pollution Canada Carbon Climate Change

ICL briefing paper estimates that 52% of all small particle pollution from road transport comes from tires and brakes

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

A new briefing paper from Imperial College London estimates that in 2021, 52% of all small particle pollution from road transport came from tires and brakes. Tire wear particles pollute the environment, the air we breathe, the water run-off from roads and has compounding effects on waterways and agriculture.

Pollution

Pollution Transportation London Environment

Empa researchers investigate release of micro-rubber particles from tires into environment

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 15, 2019

Although the presence of microplastics in the environment is raising concerns, the amount of microplastics in air and water is small compared to another polymer that pollutes air and water: micro rubber. 22 kilotonnes of micro rubber have accumulated in the environment in Switzerland. —Christoph Hüglin. 2019.113573.

Environment

Environment Switzerland Pollution Water

T&E: Rising use of private jets sends CO2 emissions soaring

Green Car Congress

MAY 28, 2021

CO 2 emissions from private jets in Europe increased by nearly a third (31%) between 2005 and 2019, rising faster than commercial aviation emissions, according to a new report from environmental campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E). Flying on a private jet is probably the worst thing you can do for the environment.

Emissions

Emissions CO2 France Pollution

Toyota moves closer to production with next-generation fuel cell technology for heavy-duty trucks; new Mirai system

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 11, 2020

Reducing airborne pollution at the Ports of L.A. An additional 8 trucks will be delivered in 2021 as part of the Zero and Near Zero Emissions Freight Forwarding (ZANZEFF) project sponsored by the state of California. —Andrew Lund, chief engineer, Toyota Motor North America Research and Development.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles Kenworth Long Beach Toyota

BNSF and Wabtec commence battery-electric locomotive pilot test in California

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 5, 2021

The battery-electric locomotive pilot program is part of a $22.6-million

California

California Battery Batteries Electric

City of Bogota, Columbia launches electric taxi pilot; part of C40-CCI EV Network

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 25, 2012

Bogota’s project will improve local air quality and noise pollution. The Decree further mandates the Secretary of the Environment and the Secretary of Mobility to consider requirements for monitoring and reporting. Privately-owned electric vehicles will enjoy these same incentives.)

Taxi

Taxi Parts i-MiEV Los Angeles

@MayorOfLA Is Ready! Garcetti Comes Out Gunning For Gas – Scattergood, Haynes & Harbor Power Plants To Stop Shoving Pollution Down Citizens Throats, Calls For Shutdown Of Aliso Canyon. #MerchantsOfDoubt In Fossil Fuel Industry Argue For More Climate Destruction

Creative Greenius

FEBRUARY 14, 2019

City Council, board members of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Commission and long term colleagues from the climate justice action community to be part of a historic announcement. ” – this means that mega-polluting, constantly climate-killing, fossil fuel Chevron must go too.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles Chevron Climate Pollution

Berkeley Lab releases 8th edition of databook on China’s energy and environment; finding the “missing” energy consumption

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

We have gathered statistical information on energy and energy demand drivers from all different resources, such as the China Environment Yearbook , the Transportation Yearbook , the Power Yearbook , the Iron and Steel Yearbook , the Cement Almanac , statistics of oil companies and power companies.

Environment

Environment Energy Coal United States

Study finds that babies in strollers can be exposed to up to 60% more pollution than their parents

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 20, 2018

Babies in strollers can be exposed to up to ~60% higher average concentrations of pollution than their parents, causing potential damage to their frontal lobe and impacting on their cognitive abilities and brain development, according to a study by researchers at the University of Surrey (UK).

Pollution

Pollution Cleaning Clean Environment

Duke team devise method for detecting PM2.5 pollution using AI/machine learning, micro-satellite imagery and weather data

Green Car Congress

APRIL 27, 2020

The results appear in the journal Atmospheric Environment. Such information could help researchers identify hidden hotspots of dangerous pollution, greatly improve studies of pollution on human health, or potentially tease out the effects of unpredictable events on air quality, such as the breakout of an airborne global pandemic.

Pollution

Pollution Environment Standards Wind

BP agrees to add more than $400M in pollution controls at Whiting Refinery and pay $8M Clean Air Act penalty

Green Car Congress

MAY 24, 2012

has agreed to pay an $8 million penalty and invest more than $400 million to install advanced pollution controls and cut emissions from BP’s petroleum refinery in Whiting, Ind. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the DOJ. Earlier post.). —Ignacia S.

Pollution

Pollution Cleaning Clean Indiana

OSU researchers find small particles from tires inhibit growth of organisms in freshwater, coastal estuaries

Green Car Congress

MARCH 6, 2022

The findings are part of a continued effort by scientists to unravel the impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics on aquatic ecosystems and aquatic organisms. about 30% of its tread erodes and enters the environment. million metric tons of tire wear particles flow into the environment each year in the United States.

Oregon

Oregon Environment Pollution Grant

New study finds gasoline stations vent up to 10x more benzene fumes than previously thought

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 6, 2018

The findings appear in the journal Science of the Total Environment. Setback distances should be revisited to address temporal variability and pollution controls in vent emissions. By comparison, the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) used an estimate of 0.11 —Hilpert et al. pounds and 1.7

Gasoline

Gasoline New York City Pollution Gas

Motiv Power Systems delivering 7 electric walk-in vans to USPS as part of CARB program; deployment in Central Valley

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 5, 2019

The first vehicle now serves routes in Fresno with the balance of the vehicles to be deployed in Fresno and Stockton as part of a year-long program. We’re proud to now be a part of USPS’ long tradition of implementing the latest technology to green their fleet.

Fresno

Fresno Parts Power Powered

PSI team develops web tool for consumers to compare environmental impact of passenger cars in detail

Green Car Congress

MAY 17, 2020

Eutrophication of non-marine aquatic environments [kg N-eq.]. Eutrophication of non-marine aquatic environments [kg P-eq.]. Land occupation in an urban environment [m 2 / year]. Toxicity of marine aquatic environments [kg 1,4-DC-eq.]. Toxicity of non-marine aquatic environments [kg 1,4-DC-eq.].

Mariner

Mariner Climate Change DC Cars

Drivers from the world’s poorest cities who keep their windows down are exposed to 80% more air pollution

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 7, 2020

Car users from the world’s least affluent cities are exposed to a disproportionate amount of in-car air pollution because they rely heavily on opening their windows for ventilation, according to a new global study led by researchers at the University of Surrey. The study was part of the Clean Air Engineering for Cities (CArE-Cities) project.

Pollution

Pollution Malawi Ethiopia Tanzania

NOx emissions exceeded limits in 12 European countries in 2010

Green Car Congress

JULY 2, 2012

Air pollution emitted from sources such as traffic, industry and households is still above internationally agreed limits in 12 European countries, according to newly published data. These pollutants are harmful to both people and the environment, causing respiratory illnesses, acidifying soil and surface water, and damaging vegetation.

2010

2010 Emissions Pollution Finland

Study finds some improved cookstoves may emit more black carbon pollution than traditional mud cookstoves

Green Car Congress

APRIL 4, 2012

They did the test in real homes as part of Project Surya, which quantifies the impacts of cleaner cooking technologies in a village in India. Singh, Tanveer Ahmed, Nithya Ramanathan, and Veerabhadran Ramanathan (2012) Real-Time Assessment of Black Carbon Pollution in Indian Households Due to Traditional and Improved Biomass Cookstoves.

Pollution

Pollution Carbon San Diego Los Angeles

Study findings suggest that switching from coal to natural gas would do little for global climate

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

While coal use causes warming through emission of heat-trapping carbon dioxide, it also releases comparatively large amounts of sulfates and other particles that, although detrimental to the environment, cool the planet by blocking incoming sunlight. Methane is an especially potent greenhouse gas. —Tom Wigley.

Coal

Coal Climate Gas Global

Obama Administration withdraws proposed rulemaking on strengthened ozone standards

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 2, 2011

The proposed revisions were based on scientific evidence about ozone and its effects on people and the environment, and resulted from a reconsideration of the primary and secondary ozone standards set at 0.075 ppm in 2008. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

Ozone

Ozone Obama Standards EPA

EEA: Air pollution in 10 EU countries still above legal limits; road transport and agriculture

Green Car Congress

JUNE 10, 2016

Air pollution from sources such as transport and agriculture is still being emitted above legal limits in 10 European Union (EU) Member States according to new data published by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The EU-28 as a whole did not exceed its aggregated emission ceilings for any of the four air pollutants in 2014.

Pollution

Pollution Legal Transportation Luxembourg

SensorComm Technologies to conduct IoT pilot program monitoring real-time vehicle emissions in Coachella Valley

Green Car Congress

JUNE 20, 2019

SensorComm’s IoT capability will capture real-time NO x emissions data from a fleet of vehicles, and the resulting analytics will begin the process of baselining and understanding the variety of pollution footprints to provide insights into the most effective mitigation path forward. Global rollout is underway.

Emissions

Emissions Pollution Vehicles Maintenance

Stockton school district partners with Mobility House for electric school bus charging; savings of $500K over 5 years

Green Car Congress

MAY 6, 2021

Completed in less than one year, the electric school bus fleet project is part of a series of electrification initiatives by the Stockton Unified School District to become the nation’s leading zero-emission school district. Stockton Unified School District in Stockton, Calif., Funding of $4.94

Charging

Charging Maintenance Fleet Grid

California ARB study finds commuters’ exposures to air pollution greatly depends on mode of travel; light rail, personal vehicles the lowest

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

The mode of travel you take on your daily work commute can make a big difference in your exposure to air pollution, according to a new study by researchers at the California Air Resources Board (ARB). Boxplot of average PM 2.5 , BC, UFP, and LDSA [lung deposited surface area] concentrations for each commute mode.

Pollution

Pollution Personal Light California

New Mexico adopts Clean Cars Rule

Green Car Congress

MAY 6, 2022

The coordinated package of regulations will reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and ozone- and smog-causing pollutants from new passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs starting in model year 2026. —New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Cabinet Secretary James Kenney.

New Mexico

New Mexico Mexico Cleaning Clean

Study finds in-car rush-hour exposure to some particulate pollution twice as high as previously thought

Green Car Congress

JULY 23, 2017

A new study, part of the Atlanta Commuter Exposures (ACE) Study, has assessed on-roadway in-cabin particulate pollution (PM 2.5 ) collected from scripted rush hour commutes on highways and on non-highway side streets. There are a lot of reasons an in-car air sample would find higher levels of certain kinds of air pollution.

Pollution

Pollution Atlanta Cars Exhaust

Study finds single exposure to roadway PM induces transient pulmonary stress; possible need to regulate non-tailpipe-related pollution

Green Car Congress

JULY 13, 2015

A study by researchers in Israel and the US has found that single (“sub-clinical”) exposure to extracts from particulate material (PM) collected in a near roadway environment can induce a transient oxidative stress and inflammation in mice’ lungs. The paper appears in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology. —Pardo et al.

Pollution

Pollution Wisconsin Emissions Israel

Siemens Gamesa and Siemens Energy investing €120M over 5 years to develop fully integrated offshore wind-to-hydrogen system

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 18, 2021

Siemens Energy will develop a new electrolysis product to not only meet the needs of the harsh maritime offshore environment and be in sync with the wind turbine, but also to create a new competitive benchmark for green hydrogen.

Wind

Wind Hydrogen Energy Green

OICR-led study shows that environmental exposures such as air pollution are more determinant of respiratory health than inherited genetics

Green Car Congress

MARCH 8, 2018

Researchers from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), with colleagues at other institutions in Canada and the UK, have found strong evidence that environmental exposures, including air pollution, affect gene expressions associated with respiratory diseases much more than genetic ancestry. A permutation test ( n ?=?10,000

Pollution

Pollution Environment Canada Climate Change

Researchers identify new nitrated PAH compounds from combustion that are hundreds of times more mutagenic than parent PAHs

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 6, 2014

These new compounds were not previously known to exist, and raise additional concerns about the health impacts of heavily-polluted urban air or dietary exposure. PAHs are one of the types of pollutants found on particulate matter in air pollution that are of special concern.

Pollution

Pollution Oregon Los Angeles Universal

Crowdsourcing air pollution measurements: iSPEX-EU 2015

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 6, 2015

Atmospheric aerosols play an important but as-yet poorly understood role in climate and air quality, with significant impacts on the environment, health, and air traffic. This type of measurement is crucial in assessing the impacts of atmospheric aerosols on environment and health. iSPEX add-on. Click to enlarge.

2015

2015 Pollution Netherlands Light

TOAR shows present-day global ozone distribution and trends relevant to health; public database

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 6, 2018

Even so, during 2010-2014, people in parts of California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, the Midwest and the Middle Atlantic still experienced more than 15 days a year in which ozone levels exceeded the US health-based air quality standard of 70 parts per billion (ppb) averaged over eight hours. Source: University of Leicester.

Ozone

Ozone Global North America Colorado

Pepsico’s Modesto Frito Lay facility to deploy 3 BYD electric yard trucks

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 11, 2019

Three BYD 8Y electric yard trucks will be deployed by PepsiCo’s Modesto Frito Lay facility as part of a state project designed to showcase economically and environmentally sustainable warehousing and distribution technology. The project includes equipment testing, a one-year demonstration period, data collection, and associated reporting.

BYD

BYD Pollution California Electric

New analysis suggests Uber adding significantly to pollution and traffic in European cities

Study: plant roadside hedges rather than trees to combat near-road pollution

EEA: Traffic pollution still harmful to health in many parts of Europe

Air pollutant emission 2010 limits exceeded in twelve EU Member States; road transport NOx a main factor

Study finds automobile tires are a potential source of carcinogenic dibenzopyrenes to the environment

Motherson Group collaborating with UBQ to bring carbon-negative thermoplastics into auto parts

Poor air quality to remain a problem in India despite pollution control policies

Cornell team develops computationally efficient machine learning models for hyperlocal models of PM2.5 concentrations

Delhi startup develops air-purifying motorcycle helmet

EEA report finds more action needed to protect Europe’s most vulnerable citizens from air pollution, noise and extreme temperatures

Two-year study in Canada finds large trucks disproportionately contribute to higher levels of black carbon pollution

ICL briefing paper estimates that 52% of all small particle pollution from road transport comes from tires and brakes

Empa researchers investigate release of micro-rubber particles from tires into environment

T&E: Rising use of private jets sends CO2 emissions soaring

Toyota moves closer to production with next-generation fuel cell technology for heavy-duty trucks; new Mirai system

BNSF and Wabtec commence battery-electric locomotive pilot test in California

City of Bogota, Columbia launches electric taxi pilot; part of C40-CCI EV Network

@MayorOfLA Is Ready! Garcetti Comes Out Gunning For Gas – Scattergood, Haynes & Harbor Power Plants To Stop Shoving Pollution Down Citizens Throats, Calls For Shutdown Of Aliso Canyon. #MerchantsOfDoubt In Fossil Fuel Industry Argue For More Climate Destruction

Berkeley Lab releases 8th edition of databook on China’s energy and environment; finding the “missing” energy consumption

Study finds that babies in strollers can be exposed to up to 60% more pollution than their parents

Duke team devise method for detecting PM2.5 pollution using AI/machine learning, micro-satellite imagery and weather data

BP agrees to add more than $400M in pollution controls at Whiting Refinery and pay $8M Clean Air Act penalty

OSU researchers find small particles from tires inhibit growth of organisms in freshwater, coastal estuaries

New study finds gasoline stations vent up to 10x more benzene fumes than previously thought

Motiv Power Systems delivering 7 electric walk-in vans to USPS as part of CARB program; deployment in Central Valley

PSI team develops web tool for consumers to compare environmental impact of passenger cars in detail

Drivers from the world’s poorest cities who keep their windows down are exposed to 80% more air pollution

NOx emissions exceeded limits in 12 European countries in 2010

Study finds some improved cookstoves may emit more black carbon pollution than traditional mud cookstoves

Study findings suggest that switching from coal to natural gas would do little for global climate

Obama Administration withdraws proposed rulemaking on strengthened ozone standards

EEA: Air pollution in 10 EU countries still above legal limits; road transport and agriculture

SensorComm Technologies to conduct IoT pilot program monitoring real-time vehicle emissions in Coachella Valley

Stockton school district partners with Mobility House for electric school bus charging; savings of $500K over 5 years

California ARB study finds commuters’ exposures to air pollution greatly depends on mode of travel; light rail, personal vehicles the lowest

New Mexico adopts Clean Cars Rule

Study finds in-car rush-hour exposure to some particulate pollution twice as high as previously thought

Study finds single exposure to roadway PM induces transient pulmonary stress; possible need to regulate non-tailpipe-related pollution

Siemens Gamesa and Siemens Energy investing €120M over 5 years to develop fully integrated offshore wind-to-hydrogen system

OICR-led study shows that environmental exposures such as air pollution are more determinant of respiratory health than inherited genetics

Researchers identify new nitrated PAH compounds from combustion that are hundreds of times more mutagenic than parent PAHs

Crowdsourcing air pollution measurements: iSPEX-EU 2015

TOAR shows present-day global ozone distribution and trends relevant to health; public database

Pepsico’s Modesto Frito Lay facility to deploy 3 BYD electric yard trucks

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