Cutting Carbon

The Cutting Carbon section is intended to provide a link to the LowCVP website's information resources. The subjects and definitions on this page, identify the range of potential options for cutting carbon dioxide emissions from the road transport sector and can be used in combination with the website's search function.

The LowCVP website has a new, powerful search function which is intended to help visitors find the information they need from the extensive resources (news, reports, presentations, press releases images, meeting papers etc) that are available for download from this site.







Fuel & Vehicle Technology

  • Biofuels

    Biofuels can help to mitigate climate change by capturing and storing CO2 as the crops used to supply the fuel grows, thereby balancing what is emitted by road transport when the biofuel is burnt. The LowCVP has undertaken extensive work on the implications of increasing biofuels use including initiatives on carbon certification and on the broader environmental sustainability of biofuels.

    [View Related Resources]

  • Hybrid vehicles

    A hybrid vehicle has a powertrain incorporating an energy storage mechanism, either electrical or mechanical, which is able to act as a complementary or alternative source of motive power.

    [View Related Resources]

  • Hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles

    Hydrogen is the most plentiful element in the universe and present in all organic compounds and can be burnt directly in an internal combustion engine or used to generate electricity through a fuel cell.

    [View Related Resources]

  • Electric vehicles

    Electric vehicles use electricity stored in a battery as their primary source of motive power.

    [View Related Resources]

  • Other gas-fuelled vehicles

    Various other gases can be used in an alternative combusion engine to provide motive power. These include: liquified petroleum gas (LPG), and natural gas in compressed (CNG) or liquefied (LNG) forms and bio-gas (or bio-methane).

    [View Related Resources]

Vehicle Type

To enable searches by vehicle type, where it is relevant resources on the LowCVP website are divided into the following categories:

Vehicle Operation & Consumer Attitudes

  • Eco-driving

    The way in which a car is driven has a significant impact on its fuel economy and, therefore, carbon emissions. Studies show that 'eco-driving' can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 10% at fleet level and up to 25% at the individual level.

    [View Related Resources]

  • Fleet Management

    Proactive fleet management which involves regular vehicle maintenance helps reduce CO2 emissions by ensuring optimal vehicle efficiency and, thus, reducing fuel consumption. Fleet planning techniques using advance logistics can also help to optimise transport efficiency.

    [View Related Resources]

  • Consumer Attitudes and Information

    The provision of information on fuel consumption, operating costs and CO2 emissions can help consumers to make informed decisions at the point of vehicle purchase.

    [View Related Resources]

  • Modal Shift

    Moving private or business travel demand from one transport mode to another - for example from cars to trains or buses - can improve per passenger efficiencies and, therefore, cut overall emissions.

    [View Related Resources]

  • The 'Integrated Approach'

    The idea of an 'Integrated Approach' to reducing road transport CO2 came from the European automotive industry and gained support from the Cars21 high-level group. The aim of the approach is to actively promote every means available to reduce road transport CO2, not solely vehicle efficiency. The Integrated Approach may further the low carbon agenda through: reducing the carbon intensity of fuels; vehicle selection; vehicle efficiency; driving efficiency; infrastructure efficiency; improving load factors; reducing travel demand; improving planning, reducing the need to travel and other measures

    [View Related Resources]