Category Archives: Environment and Climate

Millions for research into maritime transport and the environment

Maritime transport is a major source of emissions of harmful air pollutants and carbon dioxide. In a new project, a research team from the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) and the University of Gothenburg has received SEK 6.4 million to analyse policy instruments and...

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Self-driving buses for near future

A self-driving, fossil-free bus. This idea might become reality through a forthcoming collaborative project involving the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI), Linköping University and several other participants. The project group aims to have the self-driving bus in...

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New climate-proof solutions for hard surfaces

High-density road infrastructure that emphasise maximum durability and minimum maintenance create inflexible systems, which put increased stress on urban trees and lead to increased risk for flooding. Over the past five years, the ‘Climate-proof solutions for urban surfaces’ project...

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Environmental impacts of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles in Nordic traffic conditions

Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles provide substantial environmental advantages compared with comparable Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles. Two Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles energy consumption, CO2-emission and locally polluting emissions were tested in VTT’s emission laboratory in Finland, at +23°C and...

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How can high levels of particles in tunnels be reduced?

A new study from the National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) demonstrates that older types of trains produce more particulate emissions in railroad tunnels than do newer ones. Dust binding, improved paving, and reduced studded tyre use could reduce coarse particle levels in road...

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Nordic capitals are prioritising pedestrians

Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen are all working strategically with pedestrian prioritising and urban life. Car free city centres are high on the political agenda in many Nordic cities and in a range of European countries. New policy measures are applied and in many cases, significant increases...

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Fossil-free fuels make a clear leap forward

Each year the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) organizes the Nordic region’s largest annual conference for the transport sector. For three years running there has been a session on Transportforum dealing with the development of new infrastructure for the fossil-free...

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Sustainability a long way off for aviation

It is hardly a secret that aviation must reduce its negative impact on the climate. This will require either less air travel or a breakthrough in sustainable aviation fuels. Emissions per flight are decreasing, thanks to more efficient engines, lighter aircraft, more seats per aircraft, and...

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Trend towards fewer parking spaces

Research demonstrates that it is possible to predict the need for parking in connection with renovations and new construction. At the same time, there is a trend towards cities, for example, eliminating street parking and instead using the land for cycling paths, as is the case in Stockholm and...

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Research Station with a Focus On the Environment

There is only one permanent environmental and road research station in Sweden, situated on the E18 motorway between Västerås and Enköping. VTI is now taking over as the new research coordinator for the station. “Here we can follow up on the various types of environmental effects that...

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