Belgium backs EU green tech projects

Belgium, which took over the EU's six-month presidency on 1 July, plans to support European-level initiatives promoting investment in new green technology, the acting PM Yves Leterme said last week, reports NE-Europe.

“It's very clear that new techniques and new green technology has to be worked out,” Leterme said, adding that investment in research and development programmes is essential.

“And the second step is to speed up the transforming of this technology and the research and development results in practice, in products and technologies that can be sold in the market,” the premier added.

The Indian minister of ICT, Sachin Pilot, has introduced a solar-based postal delivery vehicle, the 'Soleckshaw', as a way to use green technology for delivering services in an efficient and eco-friendly manner, states CIOL.

“We will first deploy this vehicle in next 15 to 20 days in one district on a pilot basis and then based on the results we will further take the decision on expanding the service,” Pilot said.

Soleckshaw is a solar-power assisted, pedal-operated cycle rickshaw developed by CSIR. The carbon-emissions-free vehicle reduces the rickshaw puller's effort by providing battery assistance. These are charged using solar power at charging stations.

Volvo Trucks will display a construction truck with a 13-litre diesel engine running on methane gas at the IAA show in Hannover later this year, according to Transport News Network.

“No matter which fuels become available, we are convinced that in the future we will continue to offer highly competitive transport solutions, but with a far smaller environmental footprint,” says Lars Martensson, environmental director at Volvo Trucks.

According to Volvo, the technology combines the diesel engine's high efficiency rating with the benefits of gas power. Compared with previous generations of gas engines, the efficiency rating has been improved by between 30% and 40%, says the company.