LowCVP News

LowCVP gears up for road transport’s ‘decade of change’

(Media release:) LowCVP celebrates 15-years of cutting road transport emissions at Parliamentary Reception The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) will announce its first ever three-year strategic work programme at a packed reception in Parliament today, also welcoming a leading organisation from the influential finance/leasing community to the ranks of its members.

Save the date! the LowCVP Annual Conference – Thursday, 12 July 2018, London

The success of our future zero-emission transport policies depends largely on one thing – the consumer. Without their wholehearted support and appetite for change, turning policy into practice and achieving the necessary targets will be very difficult.

Policy Developments

Government announces £48m ultra low emission bus fund

Transport Minister Nusrat Ghani has announced a new Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme for England and Wales aimed at cutting emissions and ensuring cleaner and greener journeys. Local authorities and operators will be able to bid for a share of a £48m fund, which they can use to buy hundreds of new ultra-low emission buses as well as the infrastructure to support them.

Manchester Mayor's Green Summit sets out bold proposals

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has set out a number of green transport proposals for the region at a landmark Green Summit on 21 March. The summit brought together environmental experts, interest groups, partner agencies, academics and local people to discuss Greater Manchester’s green ambitions. The GMCA aims to work with central government to deliver those things that require national action such decarbonising the national grid and transport infrastructure.

£220m Clean Air Fund launched by UK government

A £220 million Clean Air Fund has been released to tackle roadside emissions, and forms part of a £260 million plus package from the government to improve air quality. The £220m fund is available to local authorities to support a range of initiatives to support individuals and businesses affected by Clean Air zones plans.  A wide range of potential approaches are available and the published document highlights several case studies including support for mitigation measures such as retrofitting and new vehicle purchase, as well as possible support for conversion to LPG, upgrading to electric vehicles or local upgrade schemes.

London boroughs set to quadruple the number of electric vehicle public charging points

A survey conducted the London Councils group shows the 32 local authorities are set to build more than 2,600 charging points in the next financial year as demand for EVs in the capitol continues to grow. The analysis shows that since January 2017, London boroughs have installed 644 charging points. Charge points have included a mixture of slow (3kwh, mainly lamp columns), fast (7-22kwh) and rapid (50kwh+) charging solutions, installed strategically to meet local demand and to encourage uptake of electric vehicles. 

Air pollution 'super-inquiry' calls for new clean air fund to follow the 'polluter pays’ principle

An unprecedented joint inquiry by four committees of MPs has concluded that the motor industry should contribute to the cost of a new clean air fund. The Environment, Health, Transport and Environmental Audit committees want a new Clean Air Act, and a clean air fund financed by the motor industry.

Industry News

Calor earns RTFCs from imported bio-LPG, plans to go electric

Calor is breaking new ground by claiming Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates for bio-LPG imported from the Netherlands. Calor is reported to have taken delivery of bio-LPG produced from biomethane that is a by-product of Finnish biofuels producer Neste’s biodiesel plant in Rotterdam. “We’ll be claiming RTFCs for these, and in addition we’ll be claiming for Greenhouse Gas Certificates on the imported LPG from April, under the recently revised GHG Directive, when that scheme is expected to launch for the transport sector,” said Paul Blacklock, head of strategy at Calor.

Reports & Studies

NGO reports push for the end of petrol and diesel engine sales by 2030

Two reports released by WWF, in partnership with Vivid Economics, and Green Alliance propose the 2040 target to end petrol and diesel engine sales, set under the government's Clean Growth Strategy released last year, be brought forward to 2030 to tackle emissions and improve automotive business.

Other News

Zap Map launches peer-to-peer home and business charging network

Zap-Map has launched two new peer-to-peer electric vehicle (EV) charging services – Zap-Home and Zap-Work – designed to allow charge point owners to share their devices with other EV drivers. The new services from Zap Map will allow domestic and business charge point owners to earn money by sharing their unit while it’s not in use. 

England’s chief medical officer calls for focus on air pollution's threat to health

England’s chief medical officer is calling on the government to do more to reduce air pollution by introducing stringent new national standards to reduce the threat posed by the public's health. Dame Sally Davies says pollution must be seen as a public health issue and not just an environmental concern. She recommends the government bring in tougher standards to cut air pollution and standardise any road charging introduced to cut nitrogen dioxide pollution from diesel traffic.

UK’s largest battery project gets planning go-ahead in Swindon

The town of Swindon is to host one of the UK’s largest power storage projects. Swindon Borough Council’s battery will have capacity of 50MWh, the largest possible for a local authority power project.  

Events

Rushlight Summer Showcase 2018 - 14/06/2018

The Rushlight Summer Showcase takes place on Thursday, 14 June 2018 at Church House Westminster, Dean’s Yard, London, SW1P 3NZ.  It is the marketplace that brings together cleantech developers and sustainable solution providers, with investors & financiers and businesses looking to source suppliers and partners for an improved level of sustainability in their supply chain and operations. 

edie Live 2018 - 22/05/2018

Fully Charged Live - 09/06/2018

Created by TV Presenter, Robert Llewellyn, Fully Charged launched on YouTube in 2010 & has aired ~300 episodes on the future of energy & transport. Interest in low emission technologies is surging and the show has a growing, engaged audience. This two-day event, part-exhibition and part-show, will be hosted by Robert Llewellyn & Jonny Smith who will be taking centre stage in the interactive theatres.

Upcoming LowCVP Activities

New Members

Fully Charged Live - 09/06/2018

Created by TV Presenter, Robert Llewellyn, Fully Charged launched on YouTube in 2010 & has aired ~300 episodes on the future of energy & transport. Interest in low emission technologies is surging and the show has a growing, engaged audience. This two-day event, part-exhibition and part-show, will be hosted by Robert Llewellyn & Jonny Smith who will be taking centre stage in the interactive theatres.

News-In-Brief