Public Servant Lifestyle

One in ten cars should be low carbon in the next ten years, predicts 'Future Vehicles 'strategy.

The Department for Transport (DfT), The Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and HM Treasury have unveiled a strategy – called ‘Powering Future Vehicles’ - which aims to promote new vehicle technologies and fuels.

The Powering Future Vehicles strategy sets out ambitious targets to ensure that by 2012, 10% of new cars sold in the UK will be low carbon vehicles and that 600 or more new buses coming into operation each year will be low carbon.

Greenhouse Gases

Transport Minister David Jamieson said: "Road transport is responsible for 22% of the UK greenhouse gas emissions. We must tackle this. This strategy establishes the UK as a leader in the global shift to a low-carbon transport economy, and in doing so builds competitive advantage for our automotive industries. It also delivers environmental benefits both in terms of reduced carbon dioxide emissions and improvements in local air quality in urban areas."

Michael Meacher, Minister of State for the Environment commented: "I am delighted to see the launch of the Powering Future Vehicles Strategy today. Transport is the fastest rising source of emission of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. Major reductions have been made over the last decade due to improved technology but the real break-through will be when vehicles are developed with no or low emissions. This strategy will enable this break- through to happen."

Carbon Dioxide

Low carbon cars as referred to in the strategy mean vehicles that emit 100grams of carbon dioxide or less per kilometre, equivalent 70 mpg. This compares to today's new average car which emits some 178g of carbon dioxide with an average 40mpg. The strategy also includes a bus target - that 600 new buses a year by 2012 will be low-carbon defined as emitting 30% below current average carbon emissions.

Economic Secretary to the Treasury, John Healy said: "New vehicle technologies and fuels offer opportunities for radically reducing the impact of road transport on the environment. We must ensure that these opportunities are taken. In line with this thinking the Chancellor has already announced significant tax changes to achieve environmental benefits and we will continue to use tax policy to deliver environmental benefits over the coming years."

To help take the strategy forward, the Government is backing a Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership which will involve vehicle and fuel industries, consumer, environmental and other stakeholders to promote development, production and take up of greener vehicles by industry and consumers.

Environmental Perspective

Industry Minister Alan Johnson added this comment: "Manufacturing is a key part of the UK's future - but in order to lead the field and gain competitive advantage, we need innovation. From an environmental perspective the UK will have to embrace low carbon transport, so I encourage our automotive industry and those supplying it to engage whole-heartedly in this strategy. I am impressed with the vehicles we see here today but I want the UK to be developing more of these products in the years ahead."

Low carbon cars currently available include the LDV Wavedrive, a prototype British electric van, the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius - petrol hybrid cars – and the Fuel Cell Vauxhall Zafira, which – as the name suggests – is a fuel cell car.

The UK – along with the other signatories - has a legally binding commitment under the Kyoto protocol, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% by 2008-2012 against the 1990 levels and a domestic goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 20% by 2010. A joint Ministerial Low Carbon Group oversees the progress of the strategy and is to report to Parliament annually.

The Powering Future Vehicles strategy aims to promote new vehicle technologies and fuels and ensure the involvement of the UK automotive industry in the development of new technologies. The document was published July 2002.

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