Environment

Government today announced the winning bids under the third round of the Green Bus Fund for hybrid, electric and gas buses. The £31 million Green Bus Fund will see 439 new low carbon buses come to UK roads, the majority of which are expected to be manufactured in the UK.

Plans for a nationwide roll-out of hydrogen vehicles and refuelling infrastructure have today been welcomed by SMMT as a major step in securing the UK’s position as a global leader in the development and manufacture of ultra-low carbon vehicles.

The Environmental Audit Committee has published its report on Air Quality. The report calls on government to ensure that EU emissions targets are met through a number of measures, including the establishment of a national framework of low emissions zones.

The standardisation of electric vehicle (EV) charging has taken a step closer to reality as ACEA – the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association – announces proposals to encourage the use of one type of plug that could be used regardless of car make, electricity provider or country.

The UK’s first open access hydrogen vehicle refuelling station has been officially opened at Honda’s manufacturing facility in Swindon.

Ford Dagenham has completed the installation of its largest, most powerful wind turbine, adding to the two already on site.

EV charging infrastructure provider, Chargemaster plc, today announced that it will launch the UK’s first privately funded nationwide electric vehicle (EV) charging network in September 2011.

Ford Dagenham is installing a larger, more powerful third wind turbine, adding to the two turbines already on site. This new addition will double the annual CO2 saving from 2,500 to 5,000 tonnes per year.

Britain is on the cusp of becoming a global leader in the development, manufacture and use of low carbon vehicles, according to Cenex, the UK’s Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies.

The UK Low Carbon Innovation Fund (LCIF), based at the University of East Anglia (UEA), has invested £400,000 in new automotive technologies designed to improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.