Tech Watch: Audi's Travolution Team Comes Up with Fuel-Saving Concepts

INGOLSTADT, Germany — Going green in the automotive world isn't strictly limited to such things as plug-in electric vehicles. Audi AG on Tuesday took a different approach, announcing what it described as "trend-setting concepts for traffic infrastructure" with an eco-friendly twist. The German automaker's "Travolution" team unveiled its concepts for the traffic infrastructure of the future, including a clever idea that tinkers with the flow of traffic, thus cutting fuel consumption. Travolution's ideas blend "intelligent cars" with a networkwide control of traffic lights. The setup "significantly reduced stopping due to traffic lights, while also minimizing traffic-related pollution," said Audi in a statement. The software system has been undergoing a trial run at 46 traffic lights here. One intriguing part of the project is... [read full story]