New minister expresses optimism for green transport future at LowCVP Conference '15 - full event resources now available

New transport minister, Andrew Jones MP, has praised the LowCVP for having "done so much to further the cause of green motoring". In one of his first public speeches - and the first on the environmental transport agenda - at the LowCVP's Annual Conference, the minister said: "We have a great opportunity here - not just to make the UK one of the world’s leading market for green vehicles - but also one of the world’s leading producers too." Links to the minister's speech, pictures and presentations and other information from the Conference are now available on the LowCVP's website.  

LowCVP 2050 Transport Energy Infrastructure Roadmaps show the way to transport decarbonisation

A new series of reports for the LowCVP says that the UK can develop the infrastructure necessary to deliver the low carbon fuels of the future but that strong coordination is needed between key actors. Initial public support will also often be needed to enable investment in the necessary infrastructure to be kick-started.

LowCVP launches Guide to Local Measures for Encouraging the Uptake of Low Emission Vehicles - the five 'P's for success

The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership has launched a Good Practice Guide for Local Measures to Encourage the Uptake of Low Emission Vehicles. A key recommendation is that policy measures implemented at the local level should be consistent with each other, that common definitions and vocabulary for low emission vehicles should be established.

Nearly half of ‘expert’ respondents expect their next car to be a battery electric or plug-in hybrid

Nearly half of respondents to a new survey said they expect their next car to be a battery electric (BEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicle. Fourteen percent of respondents to the survey of experts conducted on behalf of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) already, in fact, drive a hybrid or battery electric vehicle. 

Formula E uses LowCVP Conference to announce cars to be solar powered

Speaking at a press conference organised by the LowCVP prior to the recent Annual Conference, Alejandro Agag Formula E's Chief Executive announced that the electric car racing series will be the first in the world to use cars regularly charged by solar power. 

Millions of second cars could be electric, AA president tells LowCVP Conference

AA President Edmund King says that the electric vehicle revolution could take a major leap forward if car manufacturers focused on the 'realities of family car use' where electric models are often ideal for use as a second car. The AA based its comments on the findings of a new Populus survey of over 18,000 'mainstream motorists' which was commissioned specifically to coincide with the LowCVP Conference.

CCC calls for early action on climate change from new Parliament to keep UK 'on track'

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has published its first report in the new Parliament about progress towards meeting targets to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The Committee says that urgent action is needed now to avoid increasing costs and impacts of climate change in the UK.

LowCVP shows how van operators can clean up emissions, and their image…and cut whole life costs by up to £18,340

The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership has launched a Low Emission Van Guide and associated web tool for operators interested in reducing running costs while also cutting their carbon emissions and impact on local air quality. The Guide is introduced alongside a related new report from Greenpeace which focuses on cutting emissions from corporate fleets.

International Developments

New US regulations proposed for HGV fuel efficiency and GHG standards

The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have announced a joint proposal for a a national programme to establish the next phase of greenhouse gas emissions and fuel efficiency standards for medium and heavy duty vehicles. This “Phase 2 programme” would significantly reduce carbon emissions and improve the fuel efficiency of heavy-duty vehicles. 

Policy Developments

Government confirms future restructure of UK plug-in car grants mechanism

The Government has confirmed that the current structure of the UK government's Plug-In Car Grant will end this year, coinciding with the sale of the 50,000th electric vehicle (EV) or the end of the budget period, whichever comes first. The announcement came following the release in April from the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) that eligible vehicles must meet criteria in one of a new three-tiered scheme depending on emission levels and zero-emission-capable mileage.

Industry News

Bolloré to launch London electric car sharing scheme next year

Bolloré, the company behind Paris’s Autolib’ car-sharing service, has announced that a similar £100m scheme will be rolled out in London from early in 2016. Ten of the electric cars used in the service were unveiled in the capital recently, painted the same distinctive red as the iconic London buses.

Consultants study says European motor industry faces higher emissions reductions targets than other sectors

A new report from FTI Consulting finds that as a result of regulating emissions of new vehicles only, the automotive sector faces higher reduction targets than any other sector and that it is one of the most regulated industries in the EU. Earlier studies, however, have shown that the auto industry - in common with others - has consistently over-estimated the cost of compliance with environmental regulations and that the benefits of environmental regulation, across different sectors, often vastly outweigh the costs.

Surge in first quarter electric vehicle sales

Over 9,000 ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) were registered in the UK in the first quarter of 2015, a 366% increase over the the same period in 2014. Motorists can now choose from a range of around 20 ULEVs, compared to just six in 2011. Responding to the rise in grant uptake, however, the Government has announced future changes to the structure of the Plug-in Grant scheme.

LowCVP News

LowCVP to hold workshop in York on 6 July to help local authorities make the low emissions vehicle switch

Following the publication of the LowCVP's "Guide to Local Measures for Encouraging the Uptake of Low Emission Vehicles", the LowCVP is hosting a pilot local authority workshop on 6 July in York to outline best practice measures - targeted at local authorities - for increasing the take-up of low pollution and low carbon vehicles in cities covering cars, vans, taxis, and buses. 

LowCVP Low Carbon Champions Awards 2015 - a few category sponsorships still available

There are still a few category sponsorships available for this year's LowCVP Low Carbon Champions Awards which will take place this year with up to 400 guests alongside Cenex's Low Carbon Vehicle (LCV) Event 2015 on September 9. Category sponsors are entitled to a table for eight at the event; an ideal opportunity to develop new business partnerships or consolidate established ones.

#LowCVP15 Conference 'trends' on Twitter

The Twitter community was out in force at the recent LowCVP Annual Conference. Shortly after Formula E's CEO Alejandro Agag announced plans for solar recharging of Formula E electric vehicles, the #LowCVP15 'handle' was reportedly 'trending' on Twitter - for what was probably the first time in the Partnership's history. Social media activity continued at a high level throughout the Conference morning session after which, presumably, the LowCVP's tech-savvy community ran short of energy for further tweeting.

Communications technology to be a 'huge disruptive force' in determining how we move in future cities

Speaking at the reception following the LowCVP's Annual Conference, former Conservative MP Dan Byles predicted that information and communications technology will be a huge, positive and disruptive force in determining mobility patterns in cities of the future. Byles cited the taxi connection service Uber as a precursor of future potentially dramatic shifts in the way we move around urban areas.

Events

UK AD & Biogas 2015

The UK's only dedicated anaerobic digestion and biogas trade show will return to the NEC in July 2015. Showcasing the latest AD technology and services from 250 exhibitors, the show will also feature a free two-day conference, free seminar sessions, one-to-one advice clinics, an R&D Hub, a biomethane vehicle area and more.

KTN Event: Preview of H2020 Transport Work Programme Priorities for 2016

The Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), in cooperation with Innovate UK, is hosting a free special preview event to facilitate first sight of the next round of Horizon 2020 transport funding calls.

Bus and Coach Engineering: Policies, Technologies and Strategies for the Low Carbon Economy

Utilising solid case studies from the innovative pilot projects, the 2nd Bus and Coach Engineering Seminar will provide practical answers to which low carbon solutions are proving to be economically and technically viable. Real world examples from Reading Buses, Bath Bus Company, Torotrak and more will also demonstrate what the industry has learned about implementing these solutions. 

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