Climate Change News

Policy Developments

Plug-in Car Grants cut early after 'exceptional demand' surge

Having announced that funding to support electric and hybrid cars would be cut by November 9, the Government brought forward the change to October 21 following an 'exceptional demand' surge. Grants for 'Category 1' vehicles, which have a range of 70 miles or more, have been cut from £4,500 to £3,500 while plug-in hybrid (Categories 2 and 3) models will no longer be eligible for a grant.

Energy Minister asks CCC whether UK should have 'net zero' CO2 target for UK economy

The energy minister Claire Perry has written a letter to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) to seek advice on a possible new zero emissions target for the UK economy. The move comes following calls by business leaders, including Prince Charles Corporate Leaders Group and a high-level international group known as 'The B Team' for governments to aim for net zero emissions by 2050 in order to reduce the chances of dangerous climate change.

Industry News

Uber announces fares levy to help drivers switch to electric vehicles in London

Uber has announced that it will introduce a 'clean air fee' of of 15p per mile for every trip booked through the Uber app in London. The proceeds, says Uber, will go towards helping drivers upgrade to an electric vehicle as well as other clean air initiatives. It aims for every car using the Uber app in the capital to be fully electric by 2025. Meanwhile the company has also announced what it is calling a $10m fund for sustainable mobility. 

LowCVP members collaborate in 'green diesel' HVO coach trial

In the search for options to decarbonise the coach sector, two LowCVP members have come together to trial a 'green diesel' which they say could save up to 90% greenhouse gas emissions on a well-to-wheel basis, without impacting maintenance regimes or vehicle warranties. 

EDF Energy announces plans to install 1,500 V2G chargers in UK

EDF Energy has announced plans to install 1,500 vehicle-to-grid chargers for its business customers in UK through a joint venture with San Diego-based Nuvve. Meanwhile, the first vehicle-to-grid trial project from the £30 million Government competition, thought to be “the largest, most diverse” project of its kind in the world, will be completed in May 2019 according to Innovate UK’s lead on the project. (Note: Resources related to this topic from the LowCVP-facilitated EV Energy Taskforce are now available - see below.)

John Lewis pledges to convert 500-strong truck fleet to biomethane by 2028

The John Lewis Partnership has pledged to revolutionise its 500-strong fleet of delivery trucks, turning its current diesel lorries into biomethane vehicles by 2028. The pledge was made as part of the Government-initiated Green GB Week, under which EDF Energy and Royal Mail were among those also making road transport-related commitments.

Reports & Studies

LowCVP News

LowCVP 'blog' for Green GB Week: Focus on collaboration as LowCVP passes 200 members

As Green GB week draws to a close, today’s headlines and social media discussions demonstrate admirably how far we have come, how far we have to go…but also how important working in partnership is and will be. LowCVP Managing Director, Andy Eastlake's blog for Green GB Week... 

Events

Low Emission Bus Workshop Birmingham - 11/12/2018

The LowCVP will host its sixth Low Emission Bus Workshop at Birmingham International Airport on Tuesday 11th December 2018. The free workshop will provide local authorities and bus operators with information on new technologies and fuels, sharing operational experiences of low carbon and low emission solutions for bus fleets around the UK, including retrofit SCR projects. Register for tickets https://lebworkshopbirmingham.eventbrite.com

Clean Air Zones advice workshop - Bristol - 06/11/2018

Energy and Rural Business Show 2019 - 06/02/2019

For the latest advances in low emission vehicles in the rural sector don’t miss Energy and Rural Business Show 2019. The event which includes Energy Now Expo, Low Emission Vehicles Expo and Rural Business Expo is free to attend. LowCVP's Managing Director, Andy Eastlake, will be speaking at the Conference associated with the event.

Is the automotive industry really nosediving into a bleak future, or are we riding high on a wave of commercial opportunity? - 21/11/2018

APC 'Future of Technology' series event: The past few years have seen an air of uncertainty rise in the automotive industry. After celebrating its resurgence in the first half of the decade the tide has turned and conversations on the demise of the sector are increasingly common. The industry faces many challenges, from increasingly difficult-to-meet environmental targets, the banning of technologies, lack of public trust, not to mention Brexit.

Webinar: Sustainable Mobility - Shaping the landscape of transportation towards a low carbon economy - 08/11/2018

By 2030, more than 60% of the world’s population will live in cities, raising the central questions: How can we realise individual mobility in more and more densely populated urban areas? What concepts do we need to be able to organise traffic in a resource-efficient and climate-friendly manner? If we are to deliver on the promises of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the global development agenda, we must make access to safe and sustainable mobility for all a priority now.

New Members

Upcoming LowCVP Activities

News-In-Brief