At the INTERMOT show in Cologne, Germany, running from October 8-12 this year, there will be a special section at the Innovation Centre which will showcase alternative drive two- and three-wheelers. The show will include vehicles that are already on the market, like the Vectrix scooter and electric E-Max scooter, and future vehicles, like a natural gas-powered Suzuki and hybrid Piaggio MP3, on display. A solar-powered test track powered by Salon AG will be on-hand for visitors to test out some of the latest electrically-driven machines and to recharge spent electric vehicles.

INTERMOT organizers believe that now is the time to put alternative energy on display, and they are intending to highlight the fact that environmentally friendly does not necessarily equal low performance. Besides alternatively-powered vehicles, the exhibit will also display eco-friendly parts, accessories and clothing related to the two-wheeled industry. The entire list of all INTERMOT exhibitors can be found at this link.

[Source: INTERMOT]

Ford has announced that the company's plant in Cologne, Germany is going to use electricity that comes exclusively from renewable sources. The energy comes from three hydro-power plants in Norway and Sweden that are owned by Vannkraft AS (Norway) and Fortum AB (Sweden), respectively, and provided to Ford through Rhein Energie AG.

The deal is for 480,000 Megawatt hours per year. According to the Ford press release, this will save about 190,000 tons of CO₂ each year. Cologne Ford's plant currently assembles the Fiesta and Fusion (a taller Fiesta, not the sedan sold under the same name in the U.S.).

Full press release after the jump

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• Me too: SEAT manufacturing plant also installing photovoltaic panels on roof
• Nissan to save some CO2 by installing solar panels on Spanish plants

Three German cities - Berlin, Hannover and Cologne - instituted a ban on cars that don't have catalizers or DPF (Diesel Particulate Filters). A windshield sticker proving a vehicle's environmental status is now needed to drive into the cities, known as environmental zones. But, like Mos Def wondering why he needs ID to get ID, how can you get a sticker if you're outside and want to come in? The website Green Zones will provide, for either 30 or 40 Euros. The website is available in 13 languages and the window badges will be valid in any of the German environmental zones.

Even if you're not planning on hitting those three cities any time soon, you might want to keep Green Zones in your bookmarks. More German cities will require the stickers come March, and Green Zones' stickers will work there as well. See the press release pasted after the jump for more details.

Related:

• New year, new bans: Berlin, Hannover and Cologne banning non-catalysed cars
• German biodiesel producers must become efficient, facing tough times with the taxman
• Angela Merkel: The EU will lose legitimacy if CO₂ emissions are not reduced

[Source: Climate Company]

Starting on the first day of this new year, three German cities (Berlin, Hannover and Cologne, pictured) have applied a complete ban on all vehicles that have no catalysers or DPF (Diesel Particulate Filters) in the city centers. To enter, cars must have a windshied sticker stating the installation of such devices.

German authorities try to keep city centers as clean as possible. The extension of these areas differs (we're speaking about very different cities here) but they include more than the historical city centers. Drivers can purchase identification labels for their vehicles and, in Berlin's case, it's estimated that 80 percent of the city's 1.2 million vehicles already have these labels. For now, Berlin's enforcement will be flexible; it's not until the end of January that drivers without such identificators will be fined. But from then on, the fine is 400 EUR.

Similar plans are currently being applied in cities around Italy (with mixed results). Other cities in Europe are also thinking about similar bans.

[Source: Agencia EFE via El Economista]