Announcing the beginning of the promised consultation on spending £500m to promote ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVS), the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg called for innovative ideas from key players in the automotive industry to help the UK stay ahead of global competition and secure our position as global leader in ULEVs.

Policy Developments

The EU has agreed a new compromise on Cars and CO2 regulation according to media reports. The deal, if approved by the European Parliament will mean delaying the full implementation of a 95g CO2/km limit until 2021 from an earlier deadline of 2020. There are further concessions for German car makers including enhanced super-credits for the introduction of EVs. 

A £75 million fund has been set up by the Government to challenge businesses to come up with engine technologies that will make cars more efficient and change the way we drive in future.

At the end of the Warsaw Climate Change Conference (COP19), the United Nations and leading governments said that a deal reached in the final hours means that the World is on a track towards a universal climate agreement in 2015. However 800 activists from environmental and civil society groups walked out before the end of the Conference in protest at the slow rate of progress in the talks.

Reports & Studies

The impact of poor air quality on human health could be dramatically reduced by extending the vehicle emissions and fuel-quality standards already in force in the world's biggest vehicle markets to all other markets according to a new report from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT).   

A new report commissioned by a group of leading motor and fuel companies finds that biofuels could contribute between 12 and 15% of energy for the transport sector, representing overall GHG savings of around 8 to 11%. This report, by consultancy E4tech, and another recently published study by CE Delft/TNO both conclude that clarity on the future of biofuels policy is urgently needed. 

A new report from a 'think tank' which advises the German government says that abdicating from climate leadership would undermine Europe's economy and hand a huge economic advantage to China and the US. The report says that the EU is no longer the world leader on climate policies and that other major countries have caught up or even outpaced it.

Despite support from the UK government, interest in electric vehicles (EVs) is still failing to ignite according to a new survey of 3000 car buyers by Auto Trader group. Nearly four out of five British motorists believe the Government should be doing more to make alternative fuel vehicles more affordable.

LowCVP News

The LowCVP is to kick-off a project to determine the options for cutting carbon emissions from smaller road vehicles including motorbikes, mopeds and quadricycles with a workshop on December 17. The L Category workshop will examine the carbon reduction potential from this growing market segment.

The UK’s green industry business network, ecoConnect, has announced the 40 finalists who will be presenting at next year's Cleantech Innovate on 13th February 2014. Nine of the finalists are companies showcasing innovations in the LowCVP-sponsored Low Carbon Transport Award category.

You can now join the discussion on low carbon transport direct on the LowCVP's new website. A new innovation enables visitors to post ideas and comments on any of the 2,000+ news stories which feature on the site.

LOWCVP OTHER FUTURE ACTIVITIES

International Developments

In wide-ranging economic and social reforms unveiled in China, the ruling Communist Party says it will place greater emphasis on environmental protection compared with economic growth and will also hold local authorities directly responsible for pollution.

Technology News

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has announced the award of £1.5m for a project to test driverless cars in a pedestrianised area of Milton Keynes.

The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) have awarded £600,000 to Cella Energy and its partners MIRA, Coventry University and Productiv to develop a hydrogen generation system to extend the range of battery electric vehicles. 

British Gas is to trial 28 all-electric Nissan e-NV200 vans in a six month winter test in partnership with Hitachi Capital Commercial Vehicle Solutions and Gateshead College.

Shell Springboard, which is now open for entry, aims to find the UK's next big business idea in low carbon technology and innovation. Each year, £330,000 is awarded to innovative and commercially viable business ideas that aim to reduce carbon emissions. 

Events

The International Vehicle Aerodynamics Conference 2014 is the latest event in the successful series supported by the Royal Aeronautical Society and Mira since 1994. This conference provides an opportunity for engineers, designers, academics and researchers to present the latest developments across an extensive range of aerodynamics themes. The call for papers to be presented at this event has been announced. 

NEWS-IN-BRIEF