Something in the air - air quality challenges in Europe and the United States
Air quality is an issue that affects us all. Escaping to the country is not an option for many of us, and even if we could there's no guarantee that the air will be 'pure'. Air pollution has no boundaries. Air quality is a global concern and worldwide effort is needed if improvements are to be made. Insight outlines the main air quality concerns for Europe and the United States - ozone and particulate matter - and looks at the strategies that are being formed to tackle them.

Fuelling the future - the advance of the fuel cell
How will the transportation system that you use in 2010 be powered? In the quest for lower emissions and greater efficiency, a number of new motive systems have recently been introduced or are in various stages of development. Among these technologies are fuel cells. Fuel cell-powered vehicles have received a great deal of attention lately. The fuel cell offers an emissions-free form of transportation, but how? What exactly is a fuel cell? How does it work? Who is looking to develop this technology for the future? Chip Millard of Infineum provides the answers.

Out of the shade and into the sun - Sunoco's environmental initiatives reduce emissions and improve performance
There is growing demand for fuels with a lower environmental and health impact than traditional fuels - but at the same price. This poses a considerable challenge to oil companies, but it is one that Sunoco Inc of Ontario, Canada is determined to meet. The company has introduced environmentally-friendlier, high performance fuels throughout its retail network and is also investing in alternative and renewable energy projects, with a view to becoming a sustainable energy company. Insight outlines some of the initiatives of Sunoco and Suncor Energy Inc, its parent company. These companies are separate from, and unrelated to, the company known as Sunoco Inc of Philadelphia, USA.

Face to face: Ingemar Nylund on gas engine developments
Developers of large has-powered engines have brought about something of a technological revolution. The last five years have seen unprecedented changes in gas engine technology, resulting in commercially-available gas engines that are able to match the power and efficiency of their diesel counterparts - but with significantly lower exhaust emissions. Insight seeks the views of Ingemar Nylund, head of research and Development for gas engines at Wärtsilä on how have these changes been made possible, what is driving the changes and what further developments are likely in the near future.

Industry issues:

Impact on gas engine oils
Gas engine developments have also had an impact on gas engine oils. Although the lubrication methods and systems for gas engines are similar to those of gasoline or diesel engines, the performance requirements of gas engine oils are different from those of conventional engine oils. These different requirements are examined, alongside the challenge of lubricating landfill or sewage gas-powered engines.

The changing face of power generation - the attraction of small-scale generation
The demand for electricity is expected to grow significantly over the next 20 years, with little sign of a slow down after that. But in many countries the existing electricity infrastructure is not capable of meeting any increase in demand, as demonstrated by the power blackouts in California and Brazil. And in countries where the grid would need to be extended to meet demand, the cost could prove prohibitively high. So while there will always be demand for large generators and centralised power plants, small-scale generation is becoming increasingly attractive as back-up or even the prime source of electricity. Insight looks at the global picture and the reasons behind the growing market for distributed power. 

Asia Pacific - Charting the trends with a report on Infineum's Asia Pacific Trends 2001 presentations
While signs of globalisation are evident in the automotive, fuels and lubricants industry, and emissions legislation is tending to converge, regional differences still remain. These differences are apparent in Infineum Trends Presentations, which aim to keep customers up-to-date with important trends and drivers influencing the industry today. In June, Trends 2001 presentations were delivered in the Asia Pacific region. While the presentations included information on trends in the Americas and Europe, of key interest were data on the Japanese oil and auto industries and changes in the small engine arena, a key concern for the region. The major trends are reported, along with news of changes ahead in China.

The Americas - America's environmental outboards as personal watercraft shape up
Since their inception in the 1970s, personal watercraft (PWCs) have been dogged by a negative public image. However, the industry has moved on in the past 25 years. The introduction of multi-passenger models and the advent of quieter, more environmentally friendly engine designs have opened the PWC market to a wider user group. Today's PWCs are not only safer, but also produce up to 75% lower emissions and are up to 70% quieter than those manufactured just two years before. Are PWCs now the product of choice for the environment? Insight finds out more.