Car design

Transporting people and goods is a necessity of our modern lives. Transport uses energy that mostly comes from fossil fuels. These release carbon dioxide and contribute to climate change.

New car designs, technology and planning can reduce our impact on the environment while still meeting our transport needs.

Electric cars have an electric motor and batteries that plug in to charge. Read about hybrid cars. Examine some new car design features to reduce fuel consumption.

Alternative fuels

Cars can use more environmentally friendly fuels. Biodiesel can be made from plants and waste oils using simple chemical reactions. Find out how ethanol fuel is made from plants.

Explore food security and ethical issues associated with ethanol production. Examine environmentally friendly and alternative fuels.

Hydrogen fuel cells may be a future solution as they have minimal environmental impact.

Limit your reliance on cars

Calculate your carbon impact from your use of transport by completing a Transport energy audit. Investigate how to ‘green’ your driving behaviour.