UK firms challenged to cut freight emissions

UK companies are urged to compete for up to US$20 million (£15 million) of funding to develop technology to reduce harmful emissions from freight. Roads Minister Jesse Norman has called on businesses to lead research into low emission technology for lorries, as well as cars and vans. The projects could see materials which make vehicles lighter, or improve the efficiency of engines or batteries, he says.
September 22, 2017 Read time: 2 mins

UK companies are urged to compete for up to US$20 million (£15 million) of funding to develop technology to reduce harmful emissions from freight.

Roads Minister Jesse Norman has called on businesses to lead research into low emission technology for lorries, as well as cars and vans.  The projects could see materials which make vehicles lighter, or improve the efficiency of engines or batteries, he says.

The Government is continuing to find innovative ways of improving air quality across the country and the funding comes just a month after the Air Quality Plan.

The competition has been developed with Innovate UK and will help the Government achieve its ambition to be a global leader in electric vehicle technology and to see all vehicles emission free by 2040.

The first of the projects in the Government’s Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trial, announced earlier this year, are now using new electric and hydrogen dual-fuel vehicles on our roads. By mid-2018, more than 300 of these low emission vehicles will be on UK roads.

Since 2010, the Office for Low Emission Vehicles and Innovate UK have invested more than US$271 million (£300 million) in research and development, targeted at improving technologies for ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs), which has unlocked a further £200 million of private sector investment. The number of ultra low emission vehicles on our roads is at record levels with more than 118,000 registered to date and more than 11,000 registered between April and June this year.

Urban Traffic Control

Related Content

  • ACE report: private sector and user-pay for English roads
    May 16, 2018
    It’s one minute to midnight for funding England’s roads, according to a timely new report - and the clock’s big hand is pointing to some form of user-pay solution, reports David Arminas. Is there any way out of future user-pay funding for England’s highway infrastructure? The answer is a resounding ‘no’, according to the recently-published report Funding Roads for the Future. The 25-page document by the London-based Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) calls for a radical rethink about how to
    Read More
  • TfL launches LoCITY project to cut urban emissions from road freight
    February 1, 2016
    Transport for London (TfL) has launched a new five-year industry-led programme to reduce the emissions of London's freight and fleet operators. The programme will work across the industry to increase the availability and uptake of low emission vans and lorries. It will bring together freight and fleet operators, vehicle manufacturers, fuel providers and the public sector. TfL says that 85 per cent of London's goods are transported by road and that freight makes up 17 per cent of London's road traffic.
    Read More
  • Authorities switch on to all electric buses as costs tumble
    January 9, 2018
    Alan Dron looks at changes in bus propulsion as cities look to improve air quality and seek to reduce maintenance costs. Despite the ending of various incentives to adopt alternative fuels, the introduction of electric buses by US transit authorities is picking up speed as performance improves, costs drop and air quality considerations become increasingly significant. More US bus manufacturers are introducing zero-emission models and some recent contracts will see many more passengers getting their first
    Read More
  • UK to trial truck platooning by the end of 2018
    August 25, 2017
    The first truck platooning trials on UK roads are planned to take place by the end of 2018, Transport Minister Paul Maynard has said. Announcing the US$10 million (£8.1million) government funding for trials today, Maynard said advances such as lorry platooning could benefit businesses through cheaper fuel bills and other road users thanks to lower emissions and less congestion. The platooning trials will see up to three heavy goods vehicles, travelling in convoy, with acceleration and braking controlled by
    Read More

Highlighted Content