Methanol can theoretically be produced in a 100% renewable way. Which is why ships that run on methanol could be key for a sustainable future. CO2 that is captured from the atmosphere (e.g. DAG -> Removing Carbon) or from industrial processes can be combined with (green) hydrogen to create methanol. Or biomass and waste materials can be gasified to produce syngas. And also microbial processes are being explored to convert (bio) methane directly into methanol. Methane is a gas and needs to be put under pressure first to be used as liquid fuel (which is quite common for fossil fueled "natural gas". Known as LNG. And there is by the way now also at least one company that is specialised in bio-LNG). "Natural gas" is principally methane that was found underground like oil. And therefore adds to global warming. But as explained in Energy Production methane can also be produced from biodegradable waste.
A 1920 invented, but later forgotten genius technology for ships is the Flettner rotor. It works thanks to the so called Magnus effect. Those big cylinders need to get in motion first. Wind that hits the cylinder will then push the ship in a 90 degrees angle from the wind. An increasing number of shipping companies rediscovered this technology to decrease its energy consumption of up to 50%! Flettner rotor sails can therefore be considered as an effective way to make fossil fueled ships more ecological.
Australian metal mining company Fortescue is developing a train that will charge its battery while driving downhill through regenerative breaking. So it can drive all the way back with no additional energy. As the mining area is uphill, such a train could in theory operate without additional energy input until all the mining material (uphill) is harvested. When the train is loaded with metal ore, it is much heavier and contains a lot of (kinetic) energy. Despite friction and other energy losses the train might be able to charge its battery enough to drive all the way back uphill (now empty and much lighter) without any additional energy input. The same principle is already in use since 1898 at the Swiss Gornergrat Railway. Around 2 fully loaded downhill trains can provide enough energy for one fully loaded uphill train. The difference though is that the Gornergrat railway is electrified with overhead contact line wires. And the energy can not be stored. So the reccuperation system only works when the downhill- und uphill trains are driving at the same time which is usually the case.
Canadian company hempearth has created a plane that is mainly made of hemp. Hemp fibres are said to be 10 times stronger than fiberglass and leaves a zero carbon footprint. In addition, like any other plane (see link TaoClimate) it can be fueled with biofuel. And since this plane is all about hemp this plane of course "prefers" hemp biodiesel.
Germany still has many railways that are not electrified with no overhead wires. Especially regional trains are usually fossil fueled. That's why Lower Saxony's regional rail transport company in 2022 introduced the world's first train that fully runs on green hydrogen. A fuel cell on the train's roof is turning the hydrogen into electricity which then provides the electric engine with energy. The hydrogen itself is produced with green electricity. Germany is currently ramping up its hydrogen production, logistics so they may soon replace all diesel trains with hydrogen trains. Germany is producing a lot of green electricity due to a lot of wind turbines and solar pannels. Which is why there is currently a lot of overproduction during times of low demand and all the potential electricity is wasted as the grid can only take and transport so much energy (to neighboring countries in momentarily electricity need etc.). So wind turbines and solar power plants have to shut down on a regular basis. By producing hydrogen with that excess energy through electrolysis that energy can be stored and used for hydrogen trains (and hydrogen trucks) instead.
Switzerland based company Kyburz produces electric tribikes - called DXP - that are ideal for ecological postal deliveries. Especially for "the last mile". They have a range of up to 100km. They exist in different versions and you can add a trailer so even bigger packages can be delivered. Like a Swiss Army Knife DXP's are super practical and reliable in (nearly) any weather condition. They are 50km/h fast and the main advantage is that thanks to its practical size you can drive directly to most house entrances and mailboxes and are saving time because you have to walk less. And you can avoid congestions by using the bicycle lane. There are also similar small electric delivery vehicles from other companies.
A already common image in cities all across Europe are cargobikes. Loaded with.. children. Or used for all the stuff you used your car before. Like going grocery shopping or buying stuff for your garden. They are called cargo bikes because you can transport nearly everything with them you can by car.
Many parents use them to drive their children to school or any other place.
Like this, especially when you live in the city there is no need for a car anymore. Plus: It is much more fun! For parents and their children alike. Thanks to its electric power you will never get exhausted but still get some daily exercise. And even if you want to keep a car too, be aware that each kilometer less by car is helping the environment a little bit more.
Car companies like BMW, Toyota or Mercedes have all been able to create hydrogen fueled cars that work with a fuel cell that turns hydrogen into electricity and then into motion. Main advantage over electric cars: Fueling is as fast as gazoline fueled cars. And in terms of going green; Countries who are producing a lot of energy with wind and PV could store surplus energy during times of overproduction by producing hydrogen. So far a lot of green energy is being wasted (when there is wind and sun for example). Windwheels have regularly to be shut down. By the way: Like gazoline cars a hydrogen fueled car can also be electric-hydrogen "hybrid" as Honda proofs. So you can also plug it in and charge with electricity at home.
Please don't buy fossil fueled scooters anymore. There are many different electric scooters with an acceptable range and for little money. Please don't buy an old Vespa or a similar fossil fueled scooter for daily use. They are outdated and they are not making sense anymore. Unless you really need a cheap motorbike for driving hundreds of kilometers a day; Buy electric. Unlike with cars they are not more expensive than their fossil fueled counterparts. There are many different brands and they start around just $1500.- . In general there is less stuff that can break in electeric vehicles because they are made of less parts and an electric engine is not as complicated as internal combustion engines. Many electric mopeds have a battery that can be taken off so you can charge it in your flat. It usually weights around 10 kg.
A car that generates the needed electricity itself is a genius idea. A very convincing prototype is (was) the Sion from Germany based Sono Motors.
You can either charge it on the grid or let it charge itself. It can generate energy for up to 245km a week(!). So you are not just buying a car but also a little solar power pant. This really could be the future of electric cars. Unfortunately the company had financial difficutlties. But a prototype was built and they proofed that the concept actually works!
Or check out the U.S. based car Aptera which has a similar solar only range with an acceleration of 0-60 miles in just 3.5 seconds! Fully charged it has an extraordinary range of 1000 miles. You can pre-order the Aptera starting from 25,900.- $ (250 Miles range and 5.5 seconds from 0-60). Hyundai