LowCVP celebrates 10 years of cutting carbon from road transport - new car emissions down a quarter in decade
Thu 24 January 2013
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The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) is celebrating 10 years of leading the shift to greener cars, buses, trucks and vans as well as the fuels which drive them.
• Average UK new car CO2 emissions down by nearly a quarter in ten years; most rapid progress in new car energy efficiency in UK history
• 10% of new cars sold in last quarter 2012 emitted less than 100g CO2/km
• UK automotive sector ends decade in positive mood: More than £150 billion to be invested in low carbon vehicle technologies in the UK over the next 20 years
• UK is largest market in Europe for low carbon and hybrid technology in buses
• LowCVP’s activities contributed directly to carbon savings of over 2mt COe; at a cost effectiveness of £3 per tCO2e
The LowCVP marked its 10th anniversary on January 29th. During the past decade, the not-for-profit organisation has worked in close collaboration with Government, the car and fuels industries, vehicle users, NGOs and a range of other stakeholders, to help drive the low carbon vehicle agenda.
When the LowCVP was established, the average new car in the UK emitted 174.2g of CO2 per kilometre (2002 figs). The recently released 2012 figure was 133.1g per km; a reduction of 23.6% - the most rapid efficiency improvement in recent UK automotive history. At the same time, investments in the low carbon automotive sector have been rising quickly and are expected to continue to do so. More than £150 billion is forecast to be invested in low carbon vehicle technologies in the UK over the next 20 years.
Ten years ago, under its original mandate, the LowCVP aimed to achieve:
By 2012, 10% of all new car sales will be cars emitting 100g/km CO2 or less at the tailpipe
By 2012, 600 or more buses coming into operation per year will be low carbon, defined as 30% below current average carbon emissions
The first ambition was achieved in the fourth quarter of 2012 and, based on plans already announced, the bus sector is well on the way to achieving the second.
Andy Eastlake, Managing Director of the LowCVP, said: “The UK automotive industry ended 2012 on a high. Investment in low carbon technology development and production is providing growth and jobs in the UK - and has delivered the most rapid annual reductions in new car CO2 emissions that the UK has ever seen.
“This success relies on every stakeholder playing an active part and ‘doing their bit’. The LowCVP sits at the centre of this agenda and develops the collaborative focus from research and innovation, all the way through to the buying public.”
LowCVP’s influence has ranged widely across the road transport spectrum for the last 10 years: from the successful introduction of a colour-coded fuel economy label for new (and latterly, used) cars; to the sustainability and carbon accreditation methodology for biofuels which was adopted by the Government; to the design and development of the Department for Transport’s Green Bus Fund, which has been a main driver in the deployment of over 850 low carbon buses on UK roads, making it one of the largest green public transport programmes in the world.
Paul Everitt, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said: “The automotive industry has made significant progress in designing, developing and manufacturing low carbon vehicles since the formation of the LowCVP 10 years ago. The drive to deliver more fuel efficient motoring is shared across all major markets and companies recognise future success requires a range of innovative fuels and technologies.
“Industry continues to invest heavily in R&D powering the improvement of existing technologies and the introduction of other low carbon innovations. Only by working together as an industry and in partnership with Government and other stakeholders, can we progress towards a low carbon economy.”
The LowCVP has tackled tough issues; for example leading the drive to assess vehicles’ carbon emissions on an entire life cycle basis, including the manufacturing and end-of-life processes. With the arrival of electric vehicles and those powered by biofuel, future emissions will ultimately need to be assessed on a cradle-to-grave (rather than tailpipe emissions) basis and the LowCVP plans to be at the forefront of this change.
Transport Minister Norman Baker MP said: “LowCVP shares our commitment to achieving benefits for UK businesses and they have worked closely with the Government to help to reduce CO2 emissions and improve economic growth.
“This approach has proved a successful one and I hope to see the partnership continue to develop and improve in the future.”
Andy Eastlake added: “The LowCVP was a unique experiment in policy development when it was formed in 2003. The fact that it is still thriving ten years later is testimony to our members and the effectiveness of the participative approach to policy making and to the facilitation of industry-led approaches to cutting carbon from road transport. We are still held up as a model to other industries and countries and plan to keep leading the way for at least the next decade.”
The LowCVP’s Tenth Anniversary Reception and third LowCVP Low Carbon Champions Awards took place on Tuesday 29 January at One Birdcage Walk, Westminster and was attended by around 180 delegates.
The event included speeches from Transport Minister Norman Baker and LowCVP Managing Director Andy Eastlake. The Champions Awards, which followed the Anniversary Reception, included contributions from Prof Jim Skea, the LowCVP's launch director, and Lord Deben – John Gummer – Chair of the Committee on Climate Change. Former ‘Tomorrow’s World’ presenter, Kate Bellingham was the Awards MC.)
A ten-year anniversary video was prepared for the occasion and was applauded after its first viewing at the event.
The LowCVP Tenth Anniversary Reception was sponsored by BAE Systems HybriDrive, BP Biofuels and Michelin. It was hosted by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
To view the full press release, including LowCVP achievements, leading stakeholder quotes and endosements, and footnotes, please download the associated document or click here.
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