German car sales shot up after that country started a plan that paid owners of old cars to scrap their rides and buy new ones. It worked so well that the UK and the U.S. quickly started thinking about putting similar plans in place. Automotive News Europe (subs req'd) gives us another reason (four, actually) to think that these plans work, and work well, in getting people to buy a new car.

There are scrapping incentives in four of the biggest markets in Europe (Germany, France, Italy and Spain), ANE writes, and these are leading to increased demand for small cars, especially French minicars like the Renault Twingo (up 8.9 percent) and the Citroën C1 (up 9.4 percent). Sure, overall sales are still down, but the scrappage incentives are meant to get newer, more efficient cars on the road to replace older, dirtier vehicles, and they're working. Slowly but surely.


[Source: ANE]

It looks like Japanese and American consumers will be the only ones that get access to the new Lexus HS250h, at least through normal distribution channels. Toyota's European communications chief Serge Gachot told Automotive News after the reveal of the HS250h that the new hybrid will not be imported into Europe. Apparently, the HS does not have a significant advantage in CO₂ emissions over the diesel-powered IS220d, which is already available there. The IS220d is rated at 163 g/km and the new hybrid model, which is similar in size, would be in the same ball park. Given the tough market right now and the fact that Toyota is expected to post its first loss in seven decades this year, the cost of certifying a redundant model doesn't make sense. With the greater appeal of hybrids in North America and Japan, the HS would probably do better here.


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Residents of several European countries may have their mail delivered by workers in small electric vehicles if tests of the "Free Duck" being carried out in the Danube town of Russe, Bulgaria for the next two years prove successful. The purpose-designed vehicle with seating for one is said to be capable of handling about 440 lbs (we suspect that includes the driver) and can reach speeds of 28 mph. The "Duck" is the result of a collaborative effort between two universities and several European postal agencies who teamed up to create an emissions-free efficient delivery vehicle for dense urban areas. The first prototype was delivered Tuesday and in addition to much praise, also received a "ritual baptism" (we're not making this up) by the Mayor of Russe, Bozhidar Yotov. Powered by eight 12 volt batteries, the EV has a range of 28 miles and likely got its unusual name from its fume-free status and the fact the it was produced for the project by the famed Italian company, Ducati.

[Source: News.BG / Sofia News Agency]

The drama of implementing carbon dioxide emissions limits for European cars continues this week with the latest directional change. This time around, with the French holding the rotating presidency of the European Union, a new proposal has emerged that would see the limits phased in over a three-year period beginning in 2012. Originally, the plan was to have each manufacturer's fleet average no more than 130 g/km of C0₂ emissions by 2012. Under the latest proposal, only 60 percent of an automaker's fleet would have to meet that requirement. Only by 2015 would everything built have to come down to that level. Beyond that, further emissions reductions to 95-110 g/km are proposed by the end of the decade. So far there isn't any indication that any of this will become law. Both the European Parliament and member states have to pass the rules for them to take effect.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Support for crop-based biofuels is falling in many parts of the world, including Europe. When the European Commission proposed that 10 percent of road transport fuel should come from renewable sources by 2020 it didn't specify what types of renewable energy should be used. The European Parliament's industry committee has now endorsed the 10 percent requirement. However, in a nod to environmentalists, the committee has decided that at least 40 percent of that should be provided by hydrogen or electricity from renewable sources or next-generation biofuels. Environmentalists still aren't entirely pleased but the move to limit use of crop-based fuels is seen as a positive development. The committee's decision will be used as the basis for negotiations among member states of the EU before passage of final regulations, likely some time in 2009.

[Source: New Scientist Tech]

It looks like European automakers are winning their battle against the proposed European Union limits on automotive CO₂ emissions. While the European Commission had proposed a limit of 120 g/km for the vehicle fleet by 2012, manufacturers where claiming the limit was too aggressive. The members of parliament apparently agreed, with the Industry and Energy Committee voting 35-21 to slow things down. Instead of having the entire fleet meet the requirement, only 60 percent of vehicles will have to pass the new threshold in 2012. Over the next several years, through 2015, the rest of the vehicles will meet the standard as well. Extremely low emission vehicles with less than 50 g/km of CO₂ will also be given extra credit counting as 1.5 vehicles in the sales weighted averaging. All electric vehicles will count as three cars until 2015. In a further move sure to make environmentalists apoplectic, the fines for exceeding the limits were slashed from the EC's proposed €95 per gram of CO₂ over the limit to €40 per gram.

[Source: Euractiv.com]

We like the idea of electric bicycles and, apparently, the world does too. We've known that electric bicycles have become extremely popular in China but new numbers reveal they're really starting to catch on in Western countries too. In America, for example, where we have rising fuel costs and an aging population, sales almost doubled to reach 10,000 in 2007. Though they say it's partly because of an increased line-up, Amazon.com is reporting a whopping 6,000 percent increase this summer from a year ago.

In Europe, where bicycle culture has traditionally been pretty strong, demand for battery-powered rides is also on the rise. France matched America's pace in 2007 with 10,000. And while sales in Germany reached 60,000 last year, they expect to double that number this year. As you might imagine, the Netherlands had no problem representin' with 89,000 in 2007 and will likely reach 121,000 by the end of this year.

If you're in the market for a new light-weight ride you'll find a wide range of manufacturers out there with varying quality. The cheapest bikes use lead-acid batteries and you can pick them up for a few hundred bucks. Lithium ion batteries are finding their way into more bikes and, although they might be more expensive (from $1,500 to ridiculous), they offer lighter weight and longer ranges. Happy trails.

[Source: Business Week]

While airlines and automakers struggle to minimize their losses as fuel prices keep climbing, at least one transportation company is thriving. French rail operator, SNCF, scored a profit of over $1.7 billion in 2007 and expects to do even better this year. SNCF operates the TGV trains that routinely travel at speeds up to 200 mph in commercial service. Unlike here in the US, rail companies in Europe and Asia have actually invested in the infrastructure and equipment to make train travel fast and reliable. Admittedly, in the days of cheap fuel, Americans had little interest in trains, but maybe they need to reconsider.

Air travel in the age of the TSA and $145/barrel oil is anything but fast and efficient. And flyers are getting squeezed more and more. For example, US Airways announced that it will remove in-flight entertainment systems from domestic aircraft to save 500lbs. Furthermore, every airline is now charging fees for checked bags and just about everything else. As a result, European travelers are hopping on the train in ever greater numbers, with SNCF expecting an increase of 8 percent this year to 80 million passenger trips. Too bad we have no such viable option here in the US. Unless you live in the Northeast, where the the Amtrak Acela runs between Boston and Washington, D.C., train travel really isn't an alternative to flying or driving on short or medium distance trips for most Americans. For longer distances, trains make no sense in the U.S. from a time and cost standpoint, particularly for business travelers, for whom those two factors are critically important.

[Source: The Guardian]

Greenpeace

Everybody's favorite pre-historic family was arrested today in Brussels, Belgium. A group of protesters from Greenpeace dressed in Flintstones-style garb were taken into custody today as they approached the European Parliament building. The EU parliament is about to start debating the legislation that would impose carbon dioxide emissions limits on automakers. The European Commission had recommended rules with hefty fines for non-compliance and fleet average emissions limited to 130g/km by 2012. Under pressure from ACEA, the European automakers association, the parliament has moved to reduce the fines and stretch out the time-line for implementation. German automakers in particular are most opposed to the new rules and German legislators have vowed to protect their domestic industry. The Greenpeace protesters were opposed to the amount of influence the industry has had on the new regulations.

[Source: Reuters]