Brake on cars Solar solution

MOTORISTS are ditching their cars for bikes to save money, especially after the government scrapped the 20 cents per litre fuel discount. According to automotive company Norauto, the annual savings from using an electric bicycle is €2,010 compared to cars.

It also contributes to a 99% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

In Spain, there are 900,000 electric bikes in circulation, making them the most popular electric form of transport in the country.

AS thousands of Europeans do every year, Jan Arlemark has recently moved to Spain in his retirement. But the Swedish inventor is not sitting on his hands. Having witnessed both traffic congestion and overflowing rubbish containers in Barcelona, he has joined a small innovation centre called Ac-

Expat inventor’s intelligent system uses solar power to reduce bad smells from rubbish bins

By Simon Hunter

cacio to start designing a new and improved garbage-handling system. The result, he explains, is an ‘intelligent system’ that guides dustcart drivers only to the containers that need to be emptied. This can reduce the distance travelled by up to 50%, making it simpler, more efficient and cutting CO2 emissions.

What’s more, the containers in his system are equipped with a ‘solar-powered disinfection system’, which eliminates bad smells and stops bacteria from spreading.

“This added feature makes the garbage-handling system much more hygienic and environmentally friendly,” he adds.

Arlemark had previous experience in disinfection technology, which he has com- bined with this AI system for the garbage collection itself.

“I have drawn up my visions as a map for the future handling of our garbage,” says Arlemark. ‘“My hope is to find an investor and a municipality to prove my statements.”

A simulation he carried out in one of Barcelona’s 12 districts showed savings on fuel and personnel thanks to the system.

The inventor has already filed a patent application for his system and will be present at the EU Startups Summit in Barcelona, which will take place from April 20 to 21, to present the project to potential investors.