It seems as though, on the one hand, more Members could remain on Thursday afternoon, but on the other that they may be taken up with other business. The matter will be discussed by the STOA Bureau. Given the remarkable developments in many EU Member States concerning high fuel prices, the time may soon be ripe to organize a presentation to STOA of an interesting development in local transport. A French Formula One engine builder has developed a version of the internal combustion engine which is capable of running on compressed-air. It is essentially an electric car with a compressed-air battery and has a range of 200km on a tank full of compressed air.
Statistics show that the vast majority of car journeys are short.
The car is being developed near Nice in the South of France as an urban taxi and delivery van and produces exhaust comprising pure clean, cool air. STOA hopes to be able to arrange a presentation of this vehicle to the STOA Panel next Spring. A visit to the Glaxo-Wellcome research laboratories near Oxford, England. A visit in Spring 2001 to the IPTS in Sevilla. Mr. Harbour, MEP , has proposed a visit to the Porsche research and development facility not far from Strasbourg.