Airport ban on liquids in hand luggage set to end next year

Posted on Jan , 30, 2012 by Fiona Hughes

The end of one of the most frustrating things about travelling by air, the ban on liquids above 100ml in hand luggage, is finally in sight, thanks to new technology that can "look" inside opaque containers and determine what is inside without opening them.

The end of the ban has been touted a number of times since the regulations were introduced in 2006, with several liquid explosive detection systems developed in response to the terrorism threat. Most of these use sophisticated X-ray technology, such as the devices by Kromek and Smiths Detection. But the new system, developed by Cobalt Light Systems uses a technology called Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS).

This works by shining a laser at a container to chemically analyse the contents. The chemical data is returned and cross-checked against a database of explosives. The system is able to identify explosives inside opaque bottles, such as coloured plastic shampoo bottles or green glass wine bottles, in less than five seconds. It has recently been tested and exceeds the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) standard for use at airports and is now being trialled at several European airports.

The device looks set to be introduced as early as next year following a recent announcement from the European Commission allowing the relaxation of the ban next year. The end of the requirement to needlessly throw away bottles of water and struggle with zip lock bags full of underarm deodorant will no doubt be met with scenes of celebration in all European airports.

The next challenge for engineers please - devise a way for the people of Europe to listen to their iPods during take-off and landing!

On the Road to a Better Place

Posted on Jan , 27, 2012 by Ben Sampson

Israeli electric vehicle company Better Place turned a corner this week when its first electric cars, which are soon to come to Europe, hit the roads of Tel Aviv in Israel.

The firm, which was set up four years ago by entrepreneur and ex-SAP Director Shai Agassi, aims to lease the batteries for electric vehicles (EV) and also provide the infrastructure at which they can be recharged and swapped. The company has developed a battery “swap-station”, which automatically swaps depleted batteries for full ones in the same time it takes to fill a car with petrol.

The company is in partnership with Renault to install the electric car charging infrastructure in Israel, Denmark and Australia. According to reports, drivers will start using the better place network in Denmark next month.

If you are curious to see Better Place’s cars in action, Israel National News Arutz 7, has a comprehensive report in English.

For all the concerns about range anxiety, technical challenges and financial barriers, it can only be seen as positive that Better Place’s plans are coming to fruition. EVs are undoubtedly a good choice for people who want to use a low carbon vehicle in an urban environment. They are also a great solution for vehicle fleets like delivery vans, which operate in a “return-to-base” environment.

However, EVs are not currently suitable for every type of journey, and there is some debate over whether an electric charging infrastructure is viable or even practical. This is confirmed by the European Expert Group on alternative transport fuels, Hyer. The Group’s most recent report identifies the many different projects around Europe. For example this week the UK government backed hydrogen as a future fuel with a new development programme called UKH2Mobility. Hyer is calling for transitions to alternative fuels to be co-ordinated at the EU level.

Moped sales are on the rise due to high fuel costs

Posted on Jan , 20, 2012 by Ben Sampson

More drivers are turning to two wheels to cut costs and save time.

Recent industry figures have revealed a sharp rise in moped sales in the UK, as commuters trade in their cars for cheaper two-wheeled alternatives. According to the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) the number of mopeds registered rose by around 12% last year.

The reasons for the rise in sales seems to be largely attributed to cost, including the rising cost of petrol and diesel, city congestion charges, plus a rise in the cost of car parking at train stations (which has risen at some stations by around 30% this year).

Vehicle and moped manufacturer Peugeot reported last year that the company’s moped sales had risen by 46%. Peugeot said: "An average small capacity moped is twice as economical as a car for fuel, so you can instantly halve your motoring costs. Furthermore, not only have prices gone up at stations, but there is also often insufficient parking, so if people switch to two wheels they can often park for free, or find somewhere else nearby to park."

The moped trend seems to be most prevalent in inner city areas, with firms such as Honda and Peugeot seeing a big increase in sales in London in particular. As well as cost, the reasons for this may also be convenience, as traffic and rush hour delays increasingly frustrate city commuters. As one Londoner, who has recently invested in a moped said: “I would sometimes spend an hour-and-a-half on public transport every day going to various meetings. It was depressing and expensive."

However, the UK remains firmly behind Italy in the number of mopeds on the roads. According to government figures from Italian circulation tax, there are 3.8 million mopeds on Italian roads, although estimates put the actual figure at around 5 million. In the UK, there are 1.3 million two-wheeled motor vehicles registered with the government as being on the road, and that figure includes motorbikes and mopeds.