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LowCVP Conference highlights 'green and growth' success of UK auto sector
Over 170 people attended the LowCVP's 2014 Annual Conference which was held on July 15 at BIS Conference Centre, Westminster. The event included speeches from transport minister Baroness Kramer as well as Baroness Verma, a DECC minister and Lord Deben, Chairman of the Committee on Climate Change. The event showcased the launch of the LowCVP's new report: 'Investing in the low carbon journey'.
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Policy Developments
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Government fleets get £5m electric vehicle funding
The Office for Low Emission Vehicles has allocated £5m for ultra-low emission vehicles to be used across 20 Government fleets. This forms part of a revised National Infrastructure Plan, launched by Treasury chief secretary Danny Alexander and transport minister Baroness Kramer and will allow every central government fleet to review its arrangements and consider how greener vehicles can be used.
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London's Mayor launches new air quality manifesto
The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has unveiled an 'Air Quality Manifesto' aimed at tackling London's air pollution. He confirmed plans to create the world's first Ultra Low-Emission Zone (ULEZ); encouraging all vehicles in central London to be ultra-low or zero emissions from 2020.
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Climate Change Committee report says policy strengthening needed to meet future carbon budget
Unless key policies are strengthened and improved the UK is in danger of missing its post-2020 carbon targets according to a progress report published by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). The CCC’s latest update to Parliament identifies that good progress has been made on development and implementation of some, but not all, policies. The first carbon budget has been met through successful low carbon policies but also as a consequence of the impacts of the recession.
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LowCVP News
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First LCV- LowCVP awards dinner, Sept 10, set to be sell-out
The inaugural LCV-LowCVP Awards networking dinner to be held in Milton Keynes alongside Cenex's Low Carbon Vehicle Event 2014 is booking up fast and is anticipated to be a sell-out event. The evening will feature the announcement of the winners of the LowCVP Low Carbon Champions Awards. The Dinner will be preceded by a drinks reception to be held at the offices of the new Transport Systems Catapult which is adjacent to the event venue.
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LowCVP News: Cutting carbon from buses - new report finds progress but need to review incentives to encourage latest technology
Current incentive mechanisms have been vital to the growth of the low carbon emission bus (LCEB) market according to a new report for the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP). The Government’s Green Bus Fund (GBF) and enhancements to the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) have been key mechanisms driving the introduction of LCEB and uptake but industry specialists interviewed for the report also expressed some concern about aspects of current incentive mechanisms as well as some uncertainty arising from doubts about levels of future support.
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LowCVP Low Carbon Champions Awards receives record number of nominations
The judging process has begun after this year's LowCVP's Low Carbon Champions Awards received a record number of entries. The organisation is now well under way for the Awards presentations which will take place at the low carbon transport networking event of the year at Jury's Inn, Milton Keynes on Wednesday September 10. The LowCVP has teamed up with Cenex-LCV to present the first LCV 2014 gala dinner featuring the the Champions Awards winners announcements. There are still opportunities to get involved in the event.
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Industry News
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APC hub to be located at Warwick University
The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) has selected the University of Warwick as the site for its hub location. The hub aims to provide a focus for research and development activities for the extensive UK powertrain industry, by creating advanced propulsion systems that will help drive the future growth of the low carbon automotive industry.
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International Developments
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EEA says vans set to meet EU regulated CO2 target four years early
The European Environment Agency (EEA) says that preliminary data shows that the average van sold in 2013 was around 4 % more efficient than the previous year, so the new vans fleet has already met the collective carbon emissions target ahead of the 2017 deadline.
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US study questions greenhouse benefits of natural gas as vehicle fuel
A US-study by Stanford University researchers says that the use of natural gas as a vehicle fuel could exacerbate climate change due to leaks of methane during the drilling, production and transport of the fuel. The researchers say that the leaks offset some of the natural gas' CO2 benefit.
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Technology News
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Other News
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Changes to DfT, BIS and DECC ministerial teams in Government reshuffle
In a major reshuffle of the Government, the Prime Minister has made changes in several ministries which carry responsibilities in the area of low carbon transport. The Department for Transport has two new ministers while losing one. Matthew Hancock has responsibility both for the automotive industry in the Dept for Business Innovation and Skills and for energy as a minister in the Dept for Energy and Climate Change.
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Shell Eco-Marathon to be held in London in 2016 and Shell Springboard SME innovations competition opens next month
Shell was delighted to introduce Shell Eco-marathon to the UK audience at this year’s LowCVP Annual Conference. The contest, started in France, in 1985, has grown to three events a year in Asia, Europe and the Americas. The competition challenges some 5,000 students from fifty countries to design, build and test ultra -efficient vehicles. Cars can be powered by one type of fuel: conventional petrol and diesel; biofuels; gas-to-liquid; hydrogen; or electricity and the winners are the teams that go the furthest using the least amount of energy.
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Events
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Cenex-LCV2014
Cenex-LCV 2014, the UK's largest Low Carbon Vehicle and technology event, will be held on 10th & 11th September 2014 at the Millbrook Proving Ground. The seventh in a series of national low carbon vehicle events run by Cenex, this year LCV2014 provides exhibitors with a technology exhibition area based in three halls, as well as outdoor exhibition space on the Steering Pad for both static vehicle displays, and space for vehicles participating in the ride & drive activities on Millbrook’s tracks.
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UK Biomethane and Gas Vehicle Conference 2014
The Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA) will be holding its second UK Biomethane and Gas Vehicle Conference o the 9th September. This event brings together industry professionals from AD, transport, fuel infrastructure and logistics and government agencies, in order to discuss the change necessary to achieve the goal of a clearly profitable and affordable route to market.
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IMechE Event: Gaseous Fuels for Road Vehicles
This seminar will examine the application and use of gaseous fuels in vehicles. Delegates will be able to explore the different types of gases that can be used as fuels, and gain an insight into the benefits gaseous fuels have over traditional liquid fuels.
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IMechE: Can Green Be Fast and Fun? Implementing Low Carbon Technologies in High Performance Vehicles
The very nature of HPVs is controversial in the face of global warming and the ongoing assault on “gas guzzling” vehicles and their CO2 emissions. Implementing Low-Carbon Technologies in High Performance Vehicles will therefore address this conundrum, and will aim to demonstrate that it is possible to still drive SUVs and performance cars without the stigma of people perceiving them to be bad for the environment, compared to other cars. In addition, the seminar will provide positive solutions that can be applied to the mainstream automotive market that will benefit the entire industry.
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Bus Working Group, 16 September 2014, (TfL, 55 Broadway, SW1). DfT and TfL update; LCEB monitoring; Low carbon bus symposium; BWG future work programme proposals.
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Passenger Car Working Group, 25 September 2014, (SMMT, Great Peter St, SW1). On the agenda: DfT/OLEV policy update; Low emission van guide update; Local measures policy project update; PCWG future work programme proposals.
Members click here
Fuels Working Group, 2 October 2014, (venue tbc). On the agenda: Joint LowCVP/DfT working groups on fuel policy options; Hitting the RED target, framework for fuels beyond 2020; Infrastructure roadmap.
Members click here
Innovation Working Group, 9 October 2014, (APC, Warwick MG). On the agenda: 2014-15 work programme; Advanced Propulsion Centre Hub; Market potential for L-Category vehicles.
Members click here
Joint Group Working Projects, 15 October 2014, (DfT, London SW1). On the agenda: Forward work programme; truck accreditation; gas vehicle strategy update.
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LowCVP Board meeting, 29 October 2014 (Carbon Trust, SE1). On the agenda: Formal DfT review, 2014-15 work programme; LowCVP budget; progress review and KPIs.
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Help steer the policy and build the markets by joining the Partnership..
Current activities and projects taking place in each of the LowCVP's Working Groups: more information.
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News-In-Brief
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» National Grid: EVs in UK could reach 5 million with right polices (Blue & Green Tomorrow)
» Driverless cars heading onto British roads in 2015 (Telegraph)
» RAC Foundation: Two-thirds of new cars exempt from VED
» London Assembly urges to expand ULEZ (GLA)
» Energy Saving Trust launches new carbon footprinting service’
» Electric vehicle charging connections in Merseyside (Merseytravel)
» DfT announces £440 million to be spent on local sustainable transport schemes
» IMechE Formula Student 2014:Dutch team takes victory with electric car
» UK to miss 2030 air quality targets (BBC)
» JLR launches new family of low emission engines (Automotive Management)
» Beijing plans to build 10k EV chargepoints (China Daily)
» Free city centre Metroshuttle bus service goes electric (TfGM)
» SMMT launch 15th Sustainability Report
» The MPG gap - a real-world update (Emissions Analytics)
» China tax break for electric vehicles ((Xinhua)
» E-Jeepney set to tackle pollution in Manila (Guardian)
» ETI launches search for Bioenergy project partners
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