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LowCVP News, 1 June 2020, Issue 189

Covid-19 crisis could mark turning point in progress on climate change - international study

A study by a team of internationally renowned experts says that the Covid-19 crisis could mark a turning point in progress on climate change. "There are reasons to fear that we will leap from the COVID frying pan into the climate fire...However, the momentum could find new impetus if, humbled by the ability of ‘natural’ forces to shock the global economy, humans recalibrate our sense of omnipotence."

Read more

Policy Developments

City plans to promote cycling and walking to be supported by £2bn Government investment The Government has announced that it will invest £2 billion in schemes to promote cycling and walking in an attempt to reduce crowding and infection risk on public transport and cut congestion on the roads. New guidance will tell local authorities to reallocate road space for significantly increased numbers of cyclists and pedestrians. Meanwhile authorities in London have announced plans for areas of the city to be made car free after the lockdown is over. Read more

Government announces vision for rapid chargepoint network in England

Following a detailed analysis, the Government has announced plans for the expansion of the rapid charging network in England. By 2030 it expects the network to number around 2,500 high powered chargepoints across England's motorways and major A-roads.

CCC calls for investment in low carbon, resilient infrastructure, not new roads The Committee on Climate Change has laid out what it describes as six key principles that government should adopt for a resilient recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. CCC Chair Lord Deben and the Committee's Baroness Brown set out the principles in open letters to the Prime Minister and First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Read more

LowCVP News

LowCVP Conference, July 15, to focus on 'seizing the moment' for greener road transport - BOOK NOW! LowCVP's Annual Conference on-line will focus on how the UK can seize the opportunity for an investment-led green recovery in road transport as we emerge from the pandemic. The event will also provide a forum for policy ideas and proposals to help inform the Government's 2020 Transport Decarbonisation Plan. It will utilise the latest in digital conferencing technology to maximise the opportunities for interactivity, information sharing and networking. The event is open for bookings (free to delegates) now. Read more

Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership 2020 – driving to a zero emissions future

At this time of dramatic reassessment for the future of road transport, the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) has received cross-government commitment to its model of partnership working and today publishes its new annual work programme with net zero as the clear, ultimate destination.

Pitch your policy idea at LowCVP Conference on-line, July 15 LowCVP is calling for members and stakeholders to submit policy proposals to feature as part of the Partnership's Annual Conference on-line on July 15. Short (two-minute) video clips will be shown to delegates (many of them civil servants and policy makers) at the event, focusing on the Conference theme: "RESET 2020: Driving the green recovery" and answering the question: How can we seize the opportunity for an investment-led green recovery in road transport? Read more

Philip Sellwood CBE is new Chair of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership Philip Sellwood has been named as the new Chair of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP), the 200+ member organisation which works closely with government and the widest range of stakeholders to deliver progress in the transition to net zero in road transport. Read more

LowCVP webinar series shows authorities how to create an All Electric Bus Town

LowCVP is hosting a series of webinars to support the Department for Transport's All Electric Bus Town project that will see a town in England electrify all of its local bus services. The webinar series features specific case studies of operators and suppliers who have worked to electrify depots and routes to support electric buses.

Reports & Studies

Environmental Justice Commission calls for people to be put at heart of tackling climate & nature emergency The Environmental Justice Commission - a panel of respected economists and environment experts - has called for a huge expansion of the green economy to lead the UK's recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Convened by the Institute for Public Policy Research, the interim report calls for a fundamental shift in the UK’s economic priorities in order to fully embrace the decarbonisation agenda. Read more

Report shows dramatic rise in European investment in EVs & batteries in 2019 European investments in electric vehicles and batteries were worth €60 billion in 2019 - 19 times more than in 2018 - according to new analysis by T&E, the Brussels-based NGO. Driven by EU car CO2 targets, industry and government investments in EV production grew more than three times faster than in China. The report makes a series of recommendations for how the EU should ensure that this momentum is not lost as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more

Other News

The simple way to choose a new car - new car environmental label now on display at dealerships As the nation’s car dealers reopen their doors, many prospective customers are now thinking differently about how they travel. There’s the immediate effect of being asked to avoid public transport, together with a desire to ‘do our bit’ to maintain the cleaner air we’re all currently enjoying (a survey by the AA found that a resounding 8 out of 10 say they will take action to maintain the cleaner air post lockdown*). For some, walking or cycling more may be the answer; for others, not travelling at all and working from home is their preference. Read more

Environmental Audit Committee to investigate potential role of hydrogen in a low carbon economy

The cross-party Environmental Audit Committee is to investigate whether hydrogen could have a part to play in a low carbon energy future for the UK. The Committee is inviting written submissions to inform its deliberations.

Climate Assembly concludes with discussions on how we travel Following a final weekend of discussions on transport issues, members of the UK Climate Assembly have concluded their work and are scheduled to give their recommendations in a report to Parliament in July. Read more

$1.1bn Rockefeller Bros Fund says it has improved performance since divesting from fossil fuels

The return from a $1.1bn Rockefeller Brothers fund has outstripped industry performance averages despite its decision to divest from fossil fuels five years ago. The Fund, managed by the heirs of the founder of Standard Oil has outperformed an index portfolio of stocks and bonds, including coal oil and gas holdings by over 1%.

Events

Smarter Mobility Europe - 01/07/2020

Smarter Mobility Europe LIVE is a creative, virtual 3 day summit that answers the questions, concerns, and hopes that the mobility industry in Europe has right now around what the mobility world will look like in Europe during and post COVID-19. LowCVP's Policy & Operations Director, Jonathan Murray, will be speaking at the event.

Electrification of Bus Fleets Webinar Series - York Park&Ride - 02/06/2020

The second part of this webinar series will focus on the electric park and ride bus services in York, deployed by First Bus with support from Optare.

Upcoming LowCVP Activities

LowCVP Working Group Meetings
For the duraton of the COVID-19 Lockdwn, LowCVP still intent to hold regular meetings of our various workgroups online using Microsoft Teams.

Standard agenda items will include:

Government Updates
2020/21 Work Programme Update
Guest Presentation

Details for each working group's activites are published here .

Key Dates:

Passenger Car Working Group - Tue 9th June
NEW Energy Infrastructure Working Group - Thur 11th June
Commercial Vehicle Working Group - Tue 16th June
Fuels Working Group - Tues 2nd July

Click Here To Register for our upcoming events

If you would like to take part in this important work to decarbonise road transport during this crucial time, please consider joining LowCVP and get involved.

News-In-Brief

» CoP26 postponed by a year to November 2021 (Gov.uk)

» Boris Johnson: 'We owe it to future generations to build back better' (Business Green)

» More than 200 leading businesses urge UK Government to deliver clean, inclusive and resilient recovery plan (CLG)

» £1.7bn for road and rail Transport Network Funding Boost includes commitment to more chargepoints (Gov.uk)

» A third of fleet managers set to electrify UK fleets by 2025 (Energy Saving Trust)

» Macron announces €8bn rescue plan to revive the French car industry (BBC)

» Landmark deal to build UK battery ‘Giga factory’ moves a step closer

» Business giants call for science-based green economic recovery (edie)

» NIC calls for long-term infrastructure funding commitment with net zero focus (Current)

» SSE published ‘greenprint’ for post-pandemic including 2030 ICE phase-out (Scottish Financial Review)

» Electric car sales in Europe jumped 57% in Q1 2020 (Euractiv)

» Peugeot and Citroen electric vans to go on sale this year (SMMT)

» Volkswagen launches first all-electric van (SMMT)

» Pay people £100 to install smart meters study suggests (World News Monitor)

» BP aims for key role in EV charging, MaaS and leasing (Fleet Europe)

» Oil and gas giants overstating net-zero ambitions, study finds (edie)

» Bloomberg NEF projects electric cars to be 58% of global sales by 2040, including impacts of Covid-19 (BNEF)

» UKRI launches its environmental sustainability strategy and sets a path to a 'net zero' future (UKRI)

» Solar energy farms could offer second life for EV batteries (Energy Post)

» GM says it is 'almost there' on million-mile electric vehicle battery (Reuters)

» Tesla applies to become UK energy supplier (Independent)

» New Policy Institute - So you’ve declared a climate emergency: what next? (NPI)

» ‘Dieselgate’ engine retrofits cuts NOx by a third, study finds (Air Quality News)

» Oxford City Council starts work on Energy Superhub; includes vehicle fleet electrification (Oxford.gov)

» Asda launches EV delivery fleet (Retail Week)

» Electric vehicle drivers paid to charge up over Bank Holiday weekend (Business Green)

» Neville Jackson is new Chair of RAC Foundation (RAC Foundation)

See LowCVP MD Andy Eastlake's latest blog in GreenFleet magazine

Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, 3 Birdcage Walk, London, SW1H 9JJ

www.lowcvp.org.uk | secretariat@lowcvp.org.uk | +44 (0)20 7304 6880
Newsletter editor: Neil Wallis | neil.wallis@lowcvp.org.uk | Currently 3200+ subscribers

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