SMMT today welcomed Alistair Darling’s announcement that fuel companies will be obliged to offer more biofuel to motorists.
Speaking at the Environmentally Friendly Vehicles Conference in Birmingham, the secretary of state for transport confirmed that under a new Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation, fuel companies will have to ensure that at least five per cent of fuels sold in the UK by 2010 are from renewable sources.
SMMT chief executive, Christopher Macgowan, said, ‘Biofuels are an important part of the drive towards sustainable motoring. However, drivers need to know that a comprehensive network of refuelling sites is available which will support the investment made in alternative-fuelled vehicles. They also need to be confident in the quality of fuel supply and, crucially, these fuels need to be cheaper at the pump to drive demand.’
Addressing the secretary of state’s intention to investigate the potential for hydrogen fuels, Christopher Macgowan added, ‘The industry has long recognised that hydrogen is the primary fuel of the future. We look forward to working with government – through the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership – as it begins to develop a sustainable hydrogen infrastructure on which the cars of tomorrow will run.’
Note:
1) Department for Transport press release – www.dft.gov.uk/pns/displaypn.cgi?pn_id=2005_0116
