European Commission

EU Charges BMW, Daimler and VW with emissions collusion

The European Commission has informed BMW, Daimler and VW (Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche) of its preliminary view that they have breached EU antitrust rules from 2006 to 2014 by colluding to restrict competition on the development of technology to clean the emissions of petrol and diesel passenger cars.

SniffPhone detects cancer from breath

SniffPhone, currently in its prototype phase, enables early diagnosis of gastric cancer from a person's exhaled breath. The new method may revolutionise cancer screening all over the world.

Key to Successful Pure Electric Cars

There is no correlation of successful sales numbers or value with oil price or even up-front price in relation to electric cars. Dr Peter Harrop explores their trajectory.

Innovation paves way for next stage of global energy transformation

Countries at the forefront of the energy transformation are getting more than a third of their energy from variable renewables like solar and wind, and they're doing it in a cost-effective manner. By making use of innovative solutions that allow to integrate a higher share of renewables into power systems, innovation holds the key to a cost-effective global energy transformation.

Better electric boats and ships

Naval Group and Centrale Nantes have printed the first demonstrator of hollow propeller blades by metal additive manufacturing as part of the European H2020 project, RAMSSES1. Funded by the European Commission, this collaborative program aims to reduce the environmental impact of ships.

Tendril-like soft robot is able to climb

Researchers obtained the first soft robot mimicking plant tendrils: it is able to curl and climb, using the same physical principles determining water transport in plants.

The robots being readied to enter nuclear no-go zones

Robust, intelligent robots that react to their surroundings are being developed to work in situations that are too dangerous for humans, such as cleaning up Europe's decades-old radioactive waste or helping during a nuclear emergency.

Auto industry reacts to deal on CO2 targets for cars and vans

The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association takes note of the final deal on the CO2 regulation for cars and vans, setting targets for the years 2025 and 2030, which was struck by the EU member states and the European Parliament.

Robotics Flagship aims to develop sustainable robots and AI

The Robotics Flagship aims to develop robots and artificial intelligence that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable: this is the project proposal submitted to the European Commission, that by 2020 will have chosen the flagships that will receive one billion euros over ten years to guarantee Europe a leading position in science and technology.

EU supports breakthrough wind energy technology in Portugal

Portuguese company Windplus will receive a EUR 60 million loan under the InnovFin Energy Demonstration Project programme to install a floating wind farm off the coast of Portugal.

A report from Solar & Storage Live 2018

Solar & Storage Live is one of the UK renewable energy industry's premier annual events and is attended by a range of technology developers and policy makers with an interest in the solar & storage market, both in the UK and internationally.

Alternative Energy Innovations

AEInnovations is a Spanish technology start-up company working on thermoelectric electricity generation. IDTechEx spoke to the company's project and product manager Oscar Meca in 2018.

First solar panels installed on Solar Highways noise barrier

With the installation and mounting of the first sound-resistant solar panels for Solar Highways, an important milestone has been reached. The innovative solar noise barrier is now starting to take shape. By mid-October, all of the 136 glass solar panels, each measuring 6 m wide x 2 m high, will have been installed, forming a 400 metre-long solar noise barrier on the eastern side of the A50 motorway in Uden.

Large Opportunity for 48VMH Medium and Large Trucks?

Like the car equivalents, 48V mild hybrid trucks do not start as electric vehicles (driving the wheels electrically some or all of the time) but they are headed that way.

Corpower Ocean

Corpower is a Swedish wave energy technology developer.

Quantum dot films in displays: major technology and market trends

In this article, IDTechEx Research will focus on some of the key frontiers of short-, medium-, and long-term change in quantum dot films. In particular, we will argue that the transition away from Cd based QDs will soon be complete; we will show how QD material improvements are translating into total cost reductions and how that is reshaping the market's pricing strategies; and finally we will consider whether film type QDs can continue their supreme reign, or whether relentless innovation soon render them obsolete.

European smart cities €30 million project

+CityxChange has just secured EU Horizon 2020 Smart Cities and Communities funding for a €30 million project. 11 enterprises, 9 SMEs, 3 non-profit organisations and 2 universities will be led by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in the development of smart positive energy cities across Europe.

Greek island to run solely on wind and solar power

With the EU's clean energy, low-carbon goals and the specific needs of isolated communities in mind, the EU-funded TILOS project set out to make the Greek island of Tilos the first in the Mediterranean to be powered solely by renewable energy. This required more robust technology to store and distribute the power effectively over time and distance.

The Centauro: A new disaster response robot

Researchers have completed the realization, assembly and testing of a new disaster response robot: the Centauro, a Centaur-like robot consisting of a four-legged base and an anthropomorphic upper body. The robot is capable of performing robust locomotion, high strength manipulation and harsh interactions that may be necessary during the execution of disaster relief tasks.

Update from Ynvisible

Electrochromic display company Ynvisible recently provided an update on their 2018/19 strategy. The strategy they outlined 3 major components.