11 Nov 2009 09:11:08

Eco-friendly 'car-trains' announced

Drivers in Europe are to travel in convoy on motorways to reduce drag and cut carbon emissions, under a new EU project announced yesterday (November 10th).

Information on the Safe Road Trains for the Environment (SATRE) scheme was released by automotive technology specialists Ricardo.

Under the scheme, vehicles will travel in close proximity in a bid to use 20 percent less energy, saving carbon emissions and money.

Ricardo is to launch and develop the technology for the scheme, which will see cars link up to a "lead driver" through a navigation system, allowing following vehicles to "drive themselves".

Neil Wallis, head of communication for advisory group the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, said he welcomed the trials, due to commence in 2011, as they would help to avoid "dangerous climate change".

"Our mission is to accelerate the reduction in carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions from transport so anything like this, moving in this direction, we would welcome," he said.

However, Mr Wallis warned there is a long way to go to reach the sort of reductions needed in order to deliver the UK government's carbon reduction targets of 34 percent by 2020.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8349923.stm