Policy Developments

Government announces winning suppliers of low carbon vans under £20m procurement scheme

The Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis has announced the names of four companies who will supply electric and low carbon vans to twelve public sector organisations later this year. The companies are Ashwoods, Allied Vehicles, Smith Electric Vehicles and Modec. The £20m Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme, announced last year, aims to demonstrate the potential of new technologies for decarbonising road transport.

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Government announces start of £25m electric vehicle trials

The Government has announced that it is to support field trials of electric vehicles in eight different locations including Oxford, London, Glasgow, Birmingham and the north-east. Around 340 vehicles - mostly electric - will be involved in the trials including vehicles from Mini, Smart and Nissan. The Government says that this is the world’s largest coordinated trial of environmentally friendly vehicles.

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Bill to improve climate change information on vehicle advertising introduced to Parliament

A Bill to make provision for the display of climate change information in motor vehicle advertising and registration documents has received its first reading in the House of Commons. This Private Member's Bill introduced by Colin Challen MP is due to receive its second reading on 26 June.

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New Transport Secretary launches van CO2 database to help buyers make lower carbon choices

A new van CO2 database will mean that van buyers will have access to information to enable them to make lower carbon vehicle choices. The announcement of the launch of the new vans database was made by the new Transport Secretary, Andrew Adonis, at the LowCVP conference held at City Hall, London.

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European regulations for new car CO2 emissions enter into force

European regulations on CO2 from new passenger cars has finally entered into law. The details were published in the Official Journal of the EU on 5 June 2009. Their publication in the Official Journal marks the final act of the law-making process. A new car average CO2 emissions target of 130g/km of CO2 is to be phased in from 2012 to 2015.

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Andrew Adonis appointed Secretary of State for Transport; Sadiq Khan is new minister for low carbon transport

Lord Andrew Adonis has been appointed the new Secretary of State for Transport, succeeding Geoff Hoon, while Sadiq Khan has joined the transport ministerial team as Minister of State for Transport with responsibility for low carbon transport issues. The Government reshuffle also expanded the role of BERR to include innovation and skills and a new departmental title: the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). BIS has ten ministers reporting to Lord Mandelson who will now be known as First Secretary of State.

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Reports & Studies

New Government report says climate change will transform lives within 70 years

The Government has published a new report which provides details of how climate change will raise UK temperatures and radically change rainfall patterns and increase the frequency of storms over the next century. The report says that average temperature is likely to rise by 3-5 degrees by the 2080s unless greenhouse gas emissions are cut significantly.

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Consultations

Scottish Government launches consultation on the use of low carbon vehicles

The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on the use of low carbon vehicles, which includes proposals to widen the use of electric vehicles. The consultation, which is set to run until October 2nd 2009, is intended to inform the development of policy and a way forward for the introduction and promotion of low carbon vehicles and alternative fuels.

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European Commission publishes communication on 'a sustainable future for transport'

The European Commission has published a Communication on the future of EU transport policy which will form the basis of a white paper on future transport policy to be issued in 2010. The Communication says that future sustainability requires the identification of environmental challenges and the implementation of solutions through an acceleration of investment in innovation and technology. The Commission is inviting feedback on the Communication.  

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Technology News

Promote your carbon saving technology to vehicle and component manufacturer executives

The LowCVP Technology Challenge is seeking innovative technologies that could lead to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions from passenger cars and light goods vehicles. Selected entries will present their ideas to a panel of senior executives from the OEM vehicle and leading component manufacturers. www.lowcvp.org.uk/technologychallenge.

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Industry News

UK to get new light electric truck by year end

A new 3.5-tonne electric light truck is expected on the UK market by the end of this year. It will be distributed by Eco City Vehicles (ECV), the AIM-listed company headed by Chief Executive Peter DaCosta.

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Modec aims  to expand into Europe following EC-wide type approval

British Electric Van Manufacturer Modec has been granted EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval - the first commercial electric vehicle to gain the approval. The company can now begin marketing its vehicles in all EU member states without the need for individual national approval. Modec says that European dealerships are to be set up in The Netherlands, Ireland, France, Spain and Denmark due to strong electric commercial vehicle markets in those countries.

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New Toyota Prius is WhatGreenCar car of the year

WhatGreenCar.com has named the new generation Toyota Prius as its 'car of the year'. The new Prius is due to be launched in the UK on 1st August. Highly commended in the same competition were the new Honda Insight hybrid, the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic and the BMW 318d saloon.

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River Simple launches hydrogen car with 'open source' design

River Simple, the company led by Hugo Spowers and with backing from a member of the Porsche car making dynasty, has launched an innovative urban car for which the design specifications will be available to all potential developers. The original design, on which River Simple hopes manufacturers will improve, is a lightweight two-seater which runs on hydrogen via a fuel cell and has a range of 200 miles and top speed of 50mph.

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LowCVP News

LowCVP expert survey - Government must do more to deliver low carbon road transport

Government must do more to lead the transition to low carbon transport a survey of diverse experts from the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) has concluded.

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LowCVP survey: Most car buyers aware of fuel economy label for the first time - scheme to be extended to nearly new cars

A majority of new car buyers are now aware of the colour-coded fuel economy label introduced in showrooms in 2005. The colour-coded fuel economy label was introduced to help car buyers make more informed decisions about their vehicle choice. It makes clear and explicit the link between lower emissions and lower running costs. Introduced as a voluntary initiative, brokered by the LowCVP the label is displayed by over 90% of new car dealerships. A survey conducted for the LowCVP has shown that 54% of car buyers are now aware of the label.

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International Developments

Madrid begins installing electric car recharging points at all public parking facilities

Madrid is begining a programme to install electric vehicle recharging points at all public parking facilities in the city. The plan means that in the city's 36 parking installations there will be up to 58 recharging points where EVs can be charged for free. Meanwhile, in the UK, the new transport minister Sadiq Khan gave MPs more details about the cost of installing free standing street electric charging points.

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EV car sharing scheme launched in Norway

A Norwegian company has launched a pay-as-you-go electric car sharing service for the general public in Norway’s capital, Oslo, which it claims is the first in the world. Members can book electric cars on Move About's website and pick the car up at one of the designated locations in the Oslo region.

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Climate Change News

Leading scientist tells MPs that climate change policies are 'dangerously optimistic'

Professor Kevin Anderson, a leading climate scientist, has warned MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee that the Government's climate change policies are 'dangerously optimistic'. He said that if they were followed internationally the Government's planned carbon cuts would only have a 50 per cent chance of limiting the rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees C, the point at which the EU defines as leading to dangerous climate change.

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Other News

Energy Saving Trust invites entries for Fleet Hero Awards 2009

The Energy Saving Trust is inviting entries for the 2009 Fleet Hero Awards - the annual event which recognises businesses that have gone the extra mile to reduce carbon emissions from their fleet operations. The awards event will take place at City Hall during November (date to be confirmed).

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'Open space' invitation to LowCVP members

LowCVP members are reminded that they are invited to submit ideas for short articles to appear in the LowCVP's monthly newsletter and appear on an 'open space' section on the website. Articles should be original, not overtly commercial and of interest to the over 2,000 stakeholders who now receive the newsletter.

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Global Green Challenge - the 'ultimate eco-rally' - to start in Darwin on October 25

The Global Green Challenge, an evolution of the internationally recognised World Solar Challenge, is an event which will present hybrid, electric, solar, low emission, and alternative fuel vehicles in what the organisers are billing at 'the ultimat eco-rally'. The event is scheduled to begin in Darwin, Australia on 25 October.

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Technology Strategy Board announces details of low carbon vehicles competition

A competition launched by the Technology Strategy Board aims to nurture robust industry-led consortia capable of developing technologies to accelerate the market adoption of low carbon vehicles. Up to £15m has been set aside to fund innovative collaborative r&d projects and proof-of-concept studies.

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Events

The Carbon Show - The International Exhibition for Trading, Reducing and Managing Carbon (29-30 Sept)
29th Sep 2009

Carbon 2009 will address the future of the carbon markets and aims to help global organisations manage their carbon emissions more effectively. It will be the first exhibition of its size and scale to be held in London, enabling the carbon management and trading communities to network, meet end-users from across the UK & Europe, develop business relationships and hear from the industry’s leading carbon experts. NB THE DATES OF THIS EVENT HAVE CHANGED TO 29-30 SEPT (originally scheduled for 23-24 Sept).

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Prof Ed Gallagher to speak at All Party Renewable Transport Fuels Group reception
6th Jul 2009

Professor Ed Gallagher of the Renewable Fuels Agency will be the keynote speaker at the next meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Renewable Transport Fuels Group (APPRTFG). Ed Gallagher, Chair of the Renewable Fuels Agency will be speaking about the work of the Agency and its current priorities.

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Zero CO2 Transportation: Loughborough University Inaugural Lecture
30th Sep 2009

The lecture will explore the areas of research that need to include the effect of zero CO2 transport on the economy, the national grid, and the humanitarian and social issues associated with the new technologies, as well as the search for solutions to the issues of transportation engineering.

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