Policy Developments

Govt aims for UK to be at 'forefront of climate action and green transport' - Queen's Speech

The Queen's Speech, which lays out the Government's legislative agenda for the current Parliament, included a Government commitment to tackle climate change and plans to increase investment in green transport. The Queen said: “My ministers will ensure the United Kingdom is at the forefront of technology for new forms of transport, including autonomous and electric vehicles.”

New Mayor announces steps to tackle poor air quality in London

The new Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that he will soon launch a formal policy consultation on a major package of measures to tackle air pollution in London. The Mayor has also joined the environmental lawyers, Client Earth, in a legal challenge to the government on air quality.

UK Government announces £2m competition to encourage hydrogen vehicle take-up

The Department for Transport has launched a £2 million Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Fleet Support Scheme which will allow both public and private sector fleets in the UK to bid for funding to add hydrogen-powered vehicles to their fleets. Meanwhile, ITM Power has opened its first public hydrogen refuelling site in West London and Fife Council has announced the introduction of two hybrid hydrogen/diesel bin lorries.

Industry News

Toyota investment in Uber draws new line in car makers' battle over on-demand transport

Toyota has announced that it is buying a stake in the ride-hailing company, Uber. The move follows investments by Volkswagen and General Motors in Gett and Lyft respectively, and suggests that traditional models of car ownership may be on the verge of significant change.

Nissan launches EV-to-grid energy storage solution

Nissan has revealed plans to enter the domestic energy storage market through the UK's first vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot scheme while also launching a new storage system for the European market. The car maker is partnering with italian energy company Enel and National Grid to develop a hundred new V2G energy storage units. 

Birmingham LPG taxi project gets under way, aims to improve air quality

A project to convert 63 diesel-powered black cabs in Birmingham to run on petrol engines using LPG has begun with the fitting of new engines to five vehicles. The project is a partnership between engine manufacturer KMS, Birmingham City Council and LPG supplier Autogas. The project is a part of Birmingham's NOx Reduction Champions project.

Climate Change News

World would heat by 10C if all fossil fuels are burned - new research

New research finds that the Earth would warm by 10 degrees Celsius if all the fossil fuels potentially available are burned, leaving some regions uninhabitable and resulting in profound changes elsewhere. Meanwhile, according to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) the monthly global average concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere surpassed 400 parts per million for the first time in March 2015.

Reports & Studies

'Biofrontiers' report published: Sustainability criteria for biofuels post 2020

As part of the European Climate Foundation's Biofrontiers project, the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) has prepared a proposal for sustainability criteria to be integrated into post-2020 European Union legislation for alternative fuels. The main focus is on renewable transport fuel, and thus on biofuels and bio-liquids, but many of the criteria are applicable to the wider use of biomass for energy purposes.

EEA publishes 2015 CO2 emissions data from new vans

The European Environment Agency (EEA) reported that in 2015 the level of CO2 emissions from vans reached its lowest annual reduction since 2012, falling by less than one gramme per kilometre (g CO2/km). The average van registered in 2015 emitted 168.2 g CO2/km which is 0.9 g less than in 2014. The EEA says, however, that while the annual reduction is small, emissions are nevertheless below the EU’s 2017 target of 175 g CO2/km with the target met in 2013. Further efficiency improvements still need to be achieved to reach the EU’s target of 147 g CO2/km set for 2020.

International Developments

German government plans to encourage EV uptake through tax exemptions and other incentives

Germany's cabinet has approved measures worth around 1 billion Euros to provide new incentives and tax breaks to encourage the uptake of electric cars. Germany has set a target of bringing 1 million EVs on to its roads by 2020.

LowCVP News

Champions Awards Networking Dinner tickets now on sale

Tickets are now available for the third Cenex-LCV networking dinner featuring the LowCVP Low Carbon Champions Awards. The gala dinner, hosting around 400 people, will take place on Wednesday, 14th September at the  Doubletree by Hilton at the Milton Keynes Stadium. The dinner has become established as the leading networking event in the low carbon vehicles and fuels sector. 

Exhibition opportunities at the LowCVP Conference, Olympic Park, 30 June

There are several opportunities for internal and external exhibition at the LowCVP's 2016 Annual Conference which takes place at Here East on the Olympic Park on Thursday 30 June. The Conference is an ideal opportunity to showcase low carbon road transport innovations, ideas and initiatives and to network with leading stakeholders in this community. All exhibitors also receive a complimentary delegate place at the event. (See the exhibitor information sheet for more details.)

Other News

LoCity's first annual conference brings focus to cutting emissions from freight

Delegates at LoCity's inaugural annual conference on 25 May heard that the use of low emission vehicles in the freight and fleet industry is being held back by a lack of information about their capabilities, benefits and requirements. LoCity, initiated by Transport for London, is a structured collaborative programme that brings together the full range of stakeholders needed to stimulate the uptake of low emission commercial vehicles. The LowCVP's MD, Andy Eastlake, was among the speakers at the event.

10% room hire discount for LowCVP members at One Birdcage Walk

Host your next conference, seminar or meeting at One Birdcage Walk and as a member of LowCVP, receive a 10% room hire discount.

Investigating the role of gas vehicles

There has been renewed interest in the role that gas vehicles, both LPG and Natural Gas, can play in tackling climate change and air quality concerns.

Events

LowCVP Annual Conference 2016 - 30/06/2016

The LowCVP's 2016 Annual Conference will take place on Thursday 30 June 2016 at Here East in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. The event will be supported by and held in association with the  Make the Future London exhibition and delegates will also have a VIP opportunity to see cars of the future in action at the Shell Eco-marathon.

Cenex-LCV2016 - 14/09/2016

The 9th annual Low Carbon Vehicle Event, LCV2016, organised by Cenex, is being held at Millbrook near Bedford in England, on the 14 and 15 September 2016. Cenex-LCV2016 Networking Dinner will collaborate with LowCVP to feature the Low Carbon Champions Awards for the third consecutive year. 

European Bus Forum 2016 - 23/06/2016

The LowCVP's Managing Director Andy Eastlake is among the speakers at this year's European Bus Forum, which will be held in Manchester on June 23rd. Produced by Eurotransport and hosted by Transport for Greater Manchester, this one-day conference and gala dinner, offers opportunities for collaboration and networking. A 20% discount on delegate fees is available for LowCVP members.

Digital Engineering & Test Centre APC Spoke Launch Event - 16/06/2016

The launch event of the new Digital Engineering & Test Centre will introduce you to the opportunities afforded to all enterprises in this space – embryonic and established, small; medium; and large, commercial and academic – by the collaborative projects and background research available to organisations taking up affiliation to the centre.

Disruptive Technologies 2016 - 29/09/2016

"Disruptive Technologies 2016" will focus on the McKinsey Global Industry report which highlights the current challenges and opportunities brought by technologies and innovation that could drive massive economic transformations and disruption in the coming years.

LowCVP Upcoming Activities

News-In-Brief