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({{cat header| default.png | {{subst:PAGENAME}} | '''Road vehicles''' are important for transport, but have had a major impact on our natural environment, and the built environment. }})
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{{Wikipedia p|Low-energy vehicle}}
{{cat header| default.png | Road vehicles | '''Road vehicles''' are important for [[transport]], but have had a major impact on our [[natural environment]], and the [[built environment]]. }}  
 
=="Appropriate technology" thinking in car design==
[[Appropriate technology]] is not a term that is usually applied to cars, but many of the principles of [[appropriate technology]] are relevant.  
 
The {{WP|Citroën 2CV}} is a rare example of a car that was designed (in the 1930's) for the poorer segment of society, to be extremely efficient and low-cost. And yet it was also considered a very comfortable car, in its own way, with a flexibility of use that many more expensive cars lacked. Its lack of modern safety features make it an unsuitable car for most settings today - however in [[affordability]] and efficiency remains unsurpassed. Its remarkable [[fuel-efficiency]] is still unsurpassed by modern micro-cars, and perhaps even by the latest petrol-electric [[hybrid vehicles]].{{wp sup|Hybrid electric vehicle}}
 
The {{WP|Volkswagen Beetle}} also had many similar characteristics as the 2CV, though not as extreme, eccentric or efficient.
 
==Modern fuel-efficient cars==
Modern diesel cars can get better mileage than petrol-electric hybrid vehicles. The Opel Eco Speedster (a concept car) gets up to 113 mpg (2.5 L/100km<ref>This conversion assumes the figure is in imperial gallons. If the 113 mpg is US gallons, that equals 136 mpg in imperial gallons; or 2.1 L/100km)</ref>). See [http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/the-opel-eco-speedster.php The Opel Eco Speedster Says: Diesels Can Rip and Sip at the Same Time] on treehugger.com; or [http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame.php?file=car.php&carnum=1478 Ultimatecarpage.com page] (with a few technical comments).
 
==Retro-fitted technology==
Devices to save the energy from [[braking]] have been developed to fit to trucks. Due to the expense, they are only cost-effective for large [[trucks]], where heavy fuel use and long distances covered make it worthwhile.{{fact}}
 
==Pedicabs==
{{main|Pedicabs}}
 
Pedicabs are among the simplest, lowest cost forms of transport. The traditional pedicab is [[pedal-powered]], but motorized pedicabs (perhaps consisting motorcycles with a passenger section attached) are also in use in various cities in Asia.
 
==Vehicle production==
'''A carbon-zero Volvo plant''':
:<tt>The Volvo Trucks' manufacturing plant in Ghent, Belgium has become the first  vehicle manufacturing facility in the world to operate without releasing any  carbon dioxide. The Volvo Group intends to make all of their vehicle  manufacturing plants carbon-zero as part of the European Union-wide goal of  reducing carbon dioxide emissions by twenty percent by 2020.</tt><ref>from [http://www.thewebofhope.com/ The Web of Hope Newsletter], October 2007</ref>
 
==Notes==
<references/>
 
==See also==
* [[Hybrid vehicles]]
 
==External links==
* [http://www.earthcars.com/ Earth Cars] - a [[U.S.]] based network of car dealers, with information and tips for earth-friendly cars and car usage.
 


[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Transport]]
[[Category:Transport]]

Revision as of 13:30, 1 April 2010

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Pages in category "Road vehicles"

The following 8 pages are in this category, out of 8 total.

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