Transport

  The war of words over the European Union's (EU) threat to tax airlines on emissions escalated over the weekend when the International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that the plan may result in an international trade dispute.

Growing urbanisation does not have to spell disaster for either human health or the environment, and both research and underused technologies can help mitigate its negative effects, a conference has heard.

For the first time in human history, more people now live in cities than in rural areas and this population shift is changing the face of the world. As urban populations grow even faster, "smart" information and communication technologies will be a vital part of maintaining the efficiency of bursting mega-cities.

In a further move to build dominance in electric vehicles, China plans to limit foreign investors' participation proportion in new projects for key components of new-energy vehicles to under 50 percent, the National Business Daily reported.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has hit out at the European Union plan to impose a carbon emission cap on airlines flying in Europe beginning in 1 January 2012. CAAC head Li Jiaxiang has called for the cap to be adjusted to reflect the differences between rich and poor countries.

Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group started selling the South Korea's first mid-sized gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles yesterday. Based on the Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5, they are equipped with a hard-type parallel hybrid system developed by the automotive group which operates on electric power while driving at speeds of under 20 km/h. "Compared to combined hybrid systems, the parallel system features a simpler layout but boasts much improved performance," a Hyundai-Kia spokesperson said.

The Seoul city government announced on Monday that it will operate 10 electric taxis in a trial run starting around November.

As a new carbon tax sets China's aviation industry fidgeting over projected losses, Fu Pengcheng, a Chinese biofuel expert, is feeling the pressure.

Tesla Motors Inc said today it is suing the BBC's hit motoring show Top Gear for allegedly faking a race between its electric sports car and a petrol-driven Lotus Elise, according to Reuters. The firm said it issued a writ in London's High Court on Tuesday claiming defamation and malicious falsehood over a show, aired two years ago, that supposedly tested its Roadster Sport. Tesla said it was taking action against the broadcaster for what it calls "lies and misinformation about the Roadster's performance, behaviour and reliability."