News

A major $US43 million (£35 million) package to boost the uptake of ultra-low emission cars and scooters has been unveiled by the UK government. The fresh funding commitment will see thousands more electric vehicle charge-points installed on streets and at workplaces across the UK, after the number of new ultra low emission vehicles registered rose by 250 per cent in just two years. The government is also buying two brand new Nissan LEAF electric cars for the Government Car Service, to add to the four

Nedap’s smart parking sensors have been installed in the Piazza Risorgimento in Turin, Italy as part of a smart city project initiated by Italian smart city developer Planet. The project aims to provide a sustainable public space and includes smart street lighting which dims when not required, video surveillance, automated garden irrigation and interactive information panels, as well as smart parking sensors to provide motorists with real-time information on available parking spaces. The sensors utili

Teleste subsidiary Mitron, Finland, which manufactures passenger information systems, has signed a framework agreement with Swarco Sweden to supply passenger display equipment for the Swedish Transport Administration. The agreement is valued at around US$2.6 million (€2 million) and covers the delivery of RGB-LED real-time passenger information displays for Swedish train stations. The display equipment is designed to be used in demanding weather conditions. The agreement is a continuation of the long

Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) and the University of Melbourne, Australia are to partner on the development of a National Connected Multimodal Transport (NCMT) test bed, which aims to deliver the first implementation of Cubic’s surface transport management solution worldwide. The NCMT test bed will be an urban laboratory capable of large-scale testing and implementation of emerging technologies in complex urban environments. The testing will explore ways to relieve pressures created by population gr

The global intelligent transportation system (ITS) market is expected to reach US$66.5 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research. The usage of ITS to reduce road accidents and increase safety is a major driving force for the ITS market. Demand for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication in order to enhance road safety is expected to gain momentum over the forecast period. The continuous progression and development have become a crucial need for b

The UK’s Smart EV project is launching its Consultation on Managed EV Charging at the Low Carbon Networks Innovation Conference in Manchester. The Consultation invites stakeholder views to ultimately secure a standardised industry-wide agreement for the connection, charging and control of electric vehicles. The project’s ultimate aim is to achieve agreement across a number of industries on the best way to help facilitate the roll out of controlled EV charging. In doing so, it will enable significantly

Southampton City Council has taken delivery of a new Videalert mobile enforcement vehicle, which supports multiple traffic enforcement and community safety applications simultaneously and will be used in conjunction with Videalert’s hosted digital video platform that was recently installed as part of a project to introduce CCTV enforcement of bus lanes in key areas of the city. The vehicle will patrol the city, targeting vehicles that stop unlawfully on the keep clear areas outside schools in response t

Swarco Traffic is to launch two new products at Road Expo Scotland next month: a new, full colour variable message sign (VMS); and the Smart City Messenger, a new generation of mobile VMS with built-in UTMC connectivity to afford local authorities the same level of management and control as their fixed installations. Andrew Walker, business development manager, says that Swarco, which is with its sister company SignPost Solutions, continues to develop new technologies that meet the exacting requirements

The Transport Systems Catapult (TSC) in Milton Keynes has successfully tested its self-driving vehicles in public for the first time in the UK. The demonstration of a UK developed autonomous driving system marked the conclusion of the Lutz Pathfinder Project, which has been developing the technology for the past 18 months. The project team has been running a number of exercises in preparation for the demonstration as part of the Lutz Pathfinder project, including virtual mapping of Milton Keynes, assess

Action is needed from across government departments to reverse the trend of flat-lining road deaths, according to new research from UK road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, which says reducing these deaths would in turn offer a large saving to the public purse. The new report, Evaluating the costs of incidents from the public sector perspective, is the first attempt to update the formula for death and injury cost figures since the 1990s. It is also the first time anyone has highlighted the costs to the publ

Electric vehicle (EV) charge point supplier Evolt has worked with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) in creating a north-south EV charging network throughout the islands of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. A total of 11 charge points have been strategically positioned on the Isles of Lewis and Harris, North Uist, South Uist and Barra, which make up the majority of the Council’s remit. The new network adds to the existing Evolt charge points procured and installed at the ferry ports throughout

Rail technology supplier Bombardier Transportation and consortium partner Vossloh Kiepe, has been awarded a contract for the supply of 40 Flexity low-floor trams to the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. The contract is valued at approximately US$156 million (€140 million), with an option for up to 60 additional trams. The new trams have been adapted for the city's existing light rail infrastructure and environmental and climate conditions. The vehicles are also equipped with a Vossloh Kiepe propulsion system a