Paving the way towards greener transport

One day conference explores new technologies for zero-emission cars and green fuels - News Release

Imperial College London news release

For immediate release
Monday 17 September 2007

Future technologies for green, environmentally friendly vehicles and a sustainable transport infrastructure will be discussed this Friday (21 September 2007) at a one-day conference at Imperial College London.

The event, part of the European 'Mobidays' - Sustainable Mobility Days - project, will see leading experts from across Europe meet to outline current research aimed at reducing the environmental impact of road transport.

The morning session of the conference will focus on the quest for viable alternatives to petrol and diesel as motor fuel, and the importance of creating an infrastructure that supports and encourages the use of hydrogen and innovative biofuels.

Speakers will highlight recent developments by scientists working to perfect alternative fuels, including bioethanol, biodiesel, and biogas, which is a methane-rich gas produced from waste biomass. There will also be discussion of proposed transport systems and traffic management tools which could help to cut carbon emissions on the roads.

The afternoon session of the conference will focus on how cars and other vehicles can themselves be designed to reduce carbon emissions. The emphasis will be on recent advances towards creating cars and other vehicles with zero or near-zero emissions. Vehicle technologies to be discussed include hybrid-electric cars combined with fuel cells, or with internal combustion engines that have innovative low emissions or multi-fuel capabilities.

Marcello Contestabile   from Imperial's Centre for Environmental Policy, organiser of the conference, explains: "Significant advances are being made by scientists and engineers to develop alternative fuels and new vehicles that make road transport cleaner and greener. Lots of exciting work in this field is being carried out by European researchers and this conference gives us a chance to come together and discuss recent developments and future plans to revolutionise the way we all get around on the roads."

Both the morning and afternoon sessions of the conference will conclude with a panel discussion where audience members will get the chance to ask speakers questions.

The Mobidays project has been established to analyse strengths and weaknesses of the main research projects on sustainable mobility in Europe and worldwide. It is funded by the European 6th Framework Programme.

Journalists wishing to attend the conference should register online at http://www.mobidays.eu/public_registration.php?main=public

For more information please contact:
Danielle Reeves, Imperial College London Press Office,
Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 2198
Mob: +44 (0)7803 886248
Email: Danielle.reeves@imperial.ac.uk

Notes to Editors:

1. A full conference programme can be downloaded here: http://www.mobidays.eu/pdf/lea.pdf

2. About Imperial College London

Rated as the world's ninth best university in the 2006 Times Higher Education Supplement University Rankings, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts 11,500 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality.

Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and management and delivers practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.

With 66 Fellows of the Royal Society among our current academic staff and distinguished past members of the College including 14 Nobel Laureates and two Fields Medallists, Imperial's contribution to society has been immense. Inventions and innovations include the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography and the foundations of fibre optics. This commitment to the application of our research for the benefit of all continues today with current focuses including interdisciplinary collaborations to tackle climate change and mathematical modelling to predict and control the spread of infectious diseases.

The College's 100 years of living science will be celebrated throughout 2007 with a range of events to mark the Centenary of the signing of Imperial's founding charter on 8 July 1907.

Website: www.imperial.ac.uk