Environment

Business secretary, Vince Cable, is today conducting a tour of automotive sites in the West Midlands to observe the progress being made by the UK to enhance its low carbon vehicle capabilities.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) launched its Ultra Low Carbon Truck strategy at its International Automotive Summit in London today. The aim is to help truck makers and operators deliver ever more efficient and thus lower carbon transport for the UK.

A statement on the revision on BS EN590:2009 to allow 7% bio-content and the subsequent need to label the fuel at the pump.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, has launched an “Electric Vehicle Delivery Plan” for London. The document forms the basis of the Mayor’s aspirations to make London a leading centre for electric vehicles (EVs).

The European Commission presented a series of proposals in January 2008 as a legislative response to the political commitments made by EU governments in March 2007 on energy and climate change targets, including to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% by 2020 and increasing renewable energy use by 20% by 2020.

BERR and the Department for Transport have published a study into the electrification of road transport by Cenex, the UK Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell, and technologies and engineering consultants Arup.

NAIGT was established in April 2008 with the task of developing a 20 year vision for the future of the UK automotive industry and to make recommendations on how to achieve this vision.

In review of the past year, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has issued its annual report, “Effective self-regulation: Keeping advertising standards high”.