A second success in Sheffield for Low Emission Cities Workshop

On Wednesday 18^th November, the second LowCVP: Low Emission Cities Workshop was hosted by Sheffield City Council. The free event aimed at local authorities was praised by attendees for its wide range of topics and valuable first hand experiences of low emission vehicle initiatives from across the UK. 

 

The workshop series has been designed to inform local authorities about the best practice policies to encourage uptake of low emission vehicles following the publication of the Good Practice Policy Guide and the Low Emission Van Guide this summer. Presentations from LowCVP’s Secretariat, including Managing Director Andy Eastlake, highlighted the current progress in low emission vehicle uptake in the UK and how LowCVP’s work programmes are pushing for an evidence-based transition to lower carbon transport across all vehicle sectors. 

 

Colin Matthews from JouleVert highlighted the opportunities for gas in the HGV sector and methods for identifying potential gas refuelling hubs. A duo of Morag White (Barnsley Council) and Ann Beddoes (TTR) demonstrated how the ECO Stars Recognition Scheme continues to support fleet operators to reduce their carbon emissions and fuel use through best practice models from around the UK. Charles Purkess of ITM Power provided an overview of the UK hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, giving details of the H₂ refuelling station recently opened on the M1 near Sheffield and a new hydrogen fuel cell range extender EV van.

 

The benefits that natural gas buses can bring to a local authority was delivered by John Bickerton, Reading Buses’ Chief Engineer, who revealed how reduced maintenance expenditure exceeded the difference in capital cost of gas vehicles compared with traditional diesel. Birmingham City Council’s Sylvia Broadley shared a detailed account of how Birmingham has approached low emission vehicle uptake and provided insight into the LPG taxi conversion programme which seeks to challenge air quality issues in the city.

 

To see all the presentations available from Sheffield and the first LEC Workshop in York please visit the Good Policy Guide project page.

 

LowCVP will be organising further local authority workshops next year focusing on policy, technical and practical issues related to different low emission vehicle technologies and fuels AS well as the supporting infrastructure. Please contact the Partnership if you would like to hear more or support a workshop in your area.