Policy Developments
European Commission approves state aid for purchasing low carbon buses in England
The European Commission has authorised an aid scheme supporting the purchase of low-carbon buses in England. The main objective of the scheme is to reduce the CO2 emissions produced by public buses through the introduction of a 'Green Bus Fund'.
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Arguments continue over van CO2 proposals
The motor industry has attacked the new European legislative proposals to cut CO2 emissions from light commercial vehicles complaining that there is insufficient lead time to meet the proposed targets and that the economic downturn has limited industry's capacity to invest in new products and development. The European environment group T&E says, however, that the draft legislation already delays the deadlines suggested in earlier discussions and that van manufacturers should be able to incorporate and build on rapid recent improvements in diesel car emissions.
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Government announces membership of Automotive Council in response to NAIGT proposals
The Government has announced the establishment of an Automotive Council as part of its response to the New Automotive Innovation and Growth (NAIGT) team's recommendations published earlier this year. The Council will oversee the development of a co-ordinated strategic approach and set new long-term targets for development for the automotive industry. It will be co-chaired by Lord Mandelson and Richard Parry-Jones, formerly Chief Technical Officer of Ford Motor Company and chair of the cross-industry NAIGT.
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T&E says loopholes in EU CO2 regulation could implicate electric vehicles in emissions increases
Transport and Environment (T&E) says that electric cars can play a role in tackling climate change but that current EU legislation contains loopholes which are likely to lead to emissions rising rather than falling. In a new report - “How to Avoid an Electric Shock - Electric Cars from Myth to Reality” - T&E says that binding EU targets for car CO2 emissions agreed last year include 'supercredits' that enable carmakers to sell more than 3 high emission vehicles for every EV they sell and still reach their regulated EU target. Under the regulations, EVs are counted as zero emission vehicles, ignoring the 'upstream' emissions arising when electricity is generated.
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Safety and CO2 conference highlights complementary opportunities but some conflicting requirement
Delivering the keynote presentation at the LowCVP's 'Safety and CO2' conference, held in collaboration with PACTS and the IMechE, Mark Fowkes of MIRA said that there are some conflicts between the safety and CO2 reduction agendas but in many cases they are compatible and mutually supportive. The event covered the key issues relating to both agendas: light-weighting of vehicles, hybrid and electric vehicle safety, low rolling resistance tyres, speed management and eco-safe driving. Presentations from the event are now downloadable from the LowCVP website.
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Commissioner for Climate Action appointed in new team of European Commissioners
Denmark's Climate and Energy Minister Connie Hedegaard has been appointed to a newly created post as Climate Action Commisioner in the new 27-strong European Commission. There are changes at the Transport, Environment and Trade Commissions in a wide-ranging reshuffle announced by the European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. All the proposed changes have yet to be approved by the European Parliament.
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Technology News
£22m new funding to advance the development of lightweight, super-strong materials for cars and planes
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has announced £22m of new funding to advance the development of composite materials used to reduce weight and add strength to aeroplane wings and cars. BIS says that the market for high-value composites is currently worth about £1bn to the UK economy.
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Hydrogen fuel cell buses to begin operations in Sunderland and London
Two hydrogen fuel cell buses are to begin operating in Sunderland as part of an R&D programme run by the University of Sunderland. The University is collaborating with a Chinese technology company and local experts ComeSys Europe and AVID vehicles to create ECO2Trans, which will convert two buses to a fuel cell, battery and capacitor combination. Meanwhile, Transport for London has announced that it will introduce five hydrogen fuel cell buses to its fleet.
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Industry gets together to define charging standards for electric vehicles
A declaration detailing industry plans to develop charging standards for electric cars has been signed by 50 representatives of European electricity companies and power distribution system operators and delivered to the EU Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani.
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UK Government pledges £9m support to develop all-electric urban car
The UK's Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has announced £9m funding for a project to develop an all-electric and affordable urban car manufactured using a sustainable production process. The development of the "T.27" car has been made possible through a £4.5million investment from the government-backed Technology Strategy Board. The R&D project will develop four prototypes of the vehicle by February 2011.
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Greener engine technology can cut CO2 emissions by up to 20%
New generation 'greener' engine technology which uses fuel in a flameless, low temperature combustion process, has the potential to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by 20%. The Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition Engine (HCCI) has been developed by Dundee-based Oxy-Gen Combustion Ltd. The project has been supported by the Michelin Development loans fund.
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Industry News
International Road Transport Union commits to voluntary 30% CO2 cut by 2030
The International Road Transport Union (IRU), which represents bus, coach and taxi operators in 74 countries, has voted to adopt a voluntary commitment to cut CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030. Unanimously adopted by the European Union's General Assembly in Geneva the IRU “30-by-30” Resolution will calculate the cut in terms of transport efficiency, by tonne and passenger-kilometres, using 2007 as the base year.
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Toyota reveals solar-powered EV charging plans
Toyota has announced that it is to enter the EV charger market and that it is developing a charging station that is the first to make use of solar power. Each station will consist of charging equipment, solar cells and storage batteries so that the electricty generated by the solar cells is first stored in storage batteries and then used to charge electric vehicles.
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INEOS Bio conducts waste-to-ethanol feasibility study
INEOS Bio, a subsidiary of INEOS the world’s third-largest chemicals company, has begun a feasibility study for a plant based in the North-East, to convert locally generated biodegradable household and commercial wastes into road transport fuel and clean electricity.
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International Developments
Holland introduces draft road charging law
A plan introduced by the Dutch Government will lead to the scrapping of vehicle registration and road taxes from 2012 and replace them with a per kilometre charge. The Government says that most motorists will end up paying less if the plans are introduced. The legislative proposal has been sent to the Dutch Parliament after nearly two years of debate.
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Other News
DfT launches new Act on CO2 campaign on car use
The Department for Transport has launched an advertising campaign aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from car use. The TV advertisement focuses on the fact that by driving five miles less a week, any driver can help make a difference.
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Events
Webinar, 2 December: 'Consumer attitudes: The influence of CO2 data in advertising and labelling on vehicle choice'
Join us for a lunchtime webinar to discuss the influence of fuel consumption and CO2 data in car advertising and point of sale labelling on consumer purchase choices for cars. Chaired by Jonathan Murray (LowCVP Deputy Director) this event will feature contributions from Dr Jillian Anable, Senior Lecturer in Transport at Aberdeen University on consumer attitudes - including the 'MPG Paradox' - and Graham Dixon, Director of GfK Automotive, who has extensive experience of the influence of eco-labelling on consumer vehicle choice.
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Rushlight Clean Technologies Show 2010
28th Jan 2010
The Rushlight Clean Technologies Show 2010 brings together UK and Irish clean technology companies, investors, corporate customers and advisers to assist in the development and deployment of new technology solutions for a low resource future.
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LowCVP News
'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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