New report says petrol and diesel to dominate transport fuels future to 2030 but hybrids will make inroads
Conventionally powered petrol and diesel cars will remain with us until at least 2030 and short to medium-term carbon emissions reductions from the road transport sector will depend mainly on improving their performance says a new report for the RAC Foundation/UKPIA by Ricardo-AEA. The report says that the 2025 new car CO2 target should be designed to capture well-to-wheel (and, ultimately, full life-cycle) emissions.
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 Policy Developments
Mayor announces changes to C-Charge low carbon vehicles concessions after consultation
London Mayor Boris Johnson has confirmed his decision to introduce a new Ultra Low Emission Discount (ULED) for the Congestion Charge scheme, replacing the Greener Vehicle Discount and Electric Vehicle Discount. To qualify for the ULED, vehicles will have to emit less than 75g/km of CO2 (and meet Euro 5) to qualify for the discount. Vehicles already purchased which meet the old 100g/km CO2 limit will continue to receive the discount for three years (extended from the pre-consultation proposal of two years).
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Michael Fallon takes on energy minister role in addition to BIS portfolio
The Prime Minister has appointed BIS minister Michael Fallon MP to the role of Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Mr Fallon will continue with his BIS role. He takes over from John Hayes as an energy minister, reporting to Secretary of State Edward Davey.
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EU publishes new rules for safer and more aerodynamic trucks
The European Commission has proposed new rules to allow manufacturers to develop more aerodynamic trucks which will reduce fuel consumption, cut emissions of greenhouse gases, and also enhance safety for road users.
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EU Environment Committee votes for 2025 emissions target of 68-78g/km
The European Parliament's Environment Committee has voted to adopt proposals to set an indicative 2025 target of CO2 emissions from new cars of 68-75g CO2/km and to confirm the proposed limit of 95g/km by 2020. Although the decision still has to be confirmed by the full European Parliament, EU member states and Commission, the move lays down a marker that the average new car should need less than three litres to drive 100km by 2025. The EU‘s current car emission target is 130 g/km by 2015.
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Reports & Studies
Phase One of ‘roadmap’ for the introduction of vehicles and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in the UK published by Government
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has published the first phase of the UKH2 Mobility project which provides a ‘roadmap’ for the introduction of vehicles and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in the UK. The report confirms a view published earlier that over one and a half million hydrogen powered vehicles could be on UK roads by 2030. The project, which brings together businesses from the automotive, energy, infrastructure and retail sectors with government, provides further details and background to the findings published in the interim report on 4 February 2013.
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Nearly half of drivers would consider opting for a 'green' car, says RAC survey
A new survey from the RAC finds that nearly 50% of drivers would be tempted to buy an alternatively- fuelled vehicle. Up to one quarter also said they would be seeking to purchase a lower carbon car in the next five years. According to the poll, the main problems people had with environmentally-friendly vehicles was the cost, an obstacle for around a quarter, with range issues also being a concern for some.
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New report identifies greater potential for car sharing
A new report from car sharing accreditation body, Carplus, has indicated that the market for car sharing could be expanded through a more collaborative approach, as well as through improved incentives and the adoption of recognised standards and a code of practice for the sector.
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ULEV market an 'unmissable window of opportunity' for UK auto business - report
A leading ‘think-tank’ says that the market for ultra-low emission vehicles presents an ‘unmissable window of opportunity for the British automotive industry’. The Institute for Public Policy Research’s (ippr) new report presents a roadmap for how Britain can both win a greater share of the international market and develop domestic demand for ULEVs. It explains how doing so can secure jobs and growth, help achieve environmental targets, and improve the energy grid.
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'Unburnable carbon' report says fossil fuel reserves can't be exploited if climate change is to be checked
New research from Carbon Tracker and the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at LSE says that revealed fossil fuel reserves already far exceed the carbon budget to avoid the world warming by 2°C. Consequently, it says, fossil fuel companies are greatly overvalued. The authors call for regulators, governments and investors to re-evaluate energy business models against carbon budgets, to prevent a $6trillion carbon bubble developing in the next decade.
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UK's 'carbon footprint' up 10% since 1990 due to rise in manufactured imports
Locally produced emissions of CO2 have been cut by around 20% in the last two decades but the overall UK carbon footprint has risen by 10% or more due to increased imports as incomes have grown and manufacturing has shifted to other countries as part of the broader globalisation process. This is one of the leading findings of a new report by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC).
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Further NGO reports critical of biofuels policy published
Two new reports have been published which are critical of current European and UK biofuels policy. A Chatham House report says that biofuel use in the UK is set to increase but that current standards do not ensure its use is sustainable. A separate report from T&E, the EEB, BirdLife Europe and IISD is critical of the amount of financial support the biofuels industry has received without, it claims, delivering clear environmental benefit.
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LowCVP News
LowCVP Conference 2013 - Thursday July 11, Central London - initial speakers announced
The first speakers for the LowCVP's 2013 annual conference - to be held on Thursday July 11 in Central London - have been announced and include leading representatives of the European Commission, Department for Transport and the Commitee on Climate Change. Held in association with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) the event will focus around the theme 'Beyond the Tailpipe' which was introduced at the LowCVP's Tenth Anniversary event held in January.
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Industry News
Ford invests £24m in low carbon production in Wales; Wrightbus ploughs £15m into low carbon R&D
Ford has announced a £24m investment programme at its Bridgend engine plant in Wales to produce a new, fuel-efficient 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine. The Welsh Government is also providing backing of £12m to the plant, which employs nearly 2,300 with production to start in 2014. In related news, Northern Ireland-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus is to invest almost £15m in research and development into low-carbon vehicles.
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£54m project to monitor the impact of EVs on electricity networks
A 'smart grid' project has teamed up with leading network providers for recharging facilities for EVs to monitor the impact the growth in EVs will have on electricity networks and support the UK's transition to a low carbon economy. Customer-Led Network Revolution (CLNR) project and Charge Your Car, will work together to monitor the typical energy consumption of EV drivers and gather data about when and where owners charge their vehicles.
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Other News
DfT publishes biofuels carbon calculator tool
The DfT has published an on-line calculator that allows fuel suppliers to calculate the carbon saved on a batch of fuels, as an alternative to looking up values in the carbon and sustainability (C&S) guidance tables. The DfT expects that the calculator should reduce the potential for errors.
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Events
UK Biomethane and Gas Vehicle Conference
5th Jun 2013
The first UK Biomethane and Gas Vehicle Conference is being hosted by ADBA, the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Defra, the Transport KTN, Cleaner Air for London and LowCVP.
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Green Fleet Arrive 'n' Drive - The Fleet Sustainability Event
16th May 2013
Greenfleet Arrive “n” Drive is the UK’s only fleet event dedicated to helping business fleets to lower emissions and costs. The event provides an intensive day of unique driving experiences, insight and information exchange to enable managers to make fleet procurement decisions with confidence.
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LowCVP - other future activities
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Bus Working Group, 14 May, London. On the agenda: Low Carbon Bus roadmap; TfL fleet; LCEB monitoring; Work programme.
Passenger Car Working Group, 16 May, Rockingham. On the agenda: Car labelling; work programme development; E10 bioethanol.
Fuels Working Group, 21 May, London. On the agenda: Clean fuel strategy; ILUC position paper; H2 Mobility; E10 bioethanol; Gas strategy.
Innovation Working Group, 22 May (venue tbc). On the agenda: High-level industry strategy (BIS); Universities/SMEs project; Low Carbon Vehicle Directory; Life-cycle assessment research review; Technology Challenge 2013
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News in Brief
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