Skip to main content

UK government launches new ultra low emission vehicles strategy

Transport Minister Norman Baker has launched the UK government’s strategy, Driving the future today - a strategy for ultra low emission vehicles in the UK, to drive forward the ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) industry. The new strategy signals a major change in the way vehicles will be powered in the future and reaffirms the government’s commitment to provide new opportunities for the motor industry to help grow the UK economy.
September 5, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Transport Minister Norman Baker has launched the UK government’s strategy, Driving the future today - a strategy for ultra low emission vehicles in the UK, to drive forward the ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) industry.

The new strategy signals a major change in the way vehicles will be powered in the future and reaffirms the government’s commitment to provide new opportunities for the motor industry to help grow the UK economy.

The government’s long term strategic approach will deliver: a growing fleet of, and private markets for, ULEVs; a network of charging points and other infrastructure making ULEVs an attractive proposition; the development of world class skills and facilities for the development of ULEV technologies leading to global export; and a smarter electricity grid to benefit vehicle owners and the electricity system.

Norman Baker said: “These are exciting times for the motoring industry as ultra low emission vehicles are the future for road travel. Our vision is that by 2050 almost every car and van will be an ultra low emission vehicle with the UK at the forefront of their design, development and manufacture. This strategy moves us up a gear in pursuing that vision.”

The Office for Low Emission Vehicles is inviting industry to have a say through a call for evidence on how best to invest US$781 million of funding to drive the revolution and establish the UK as a premier market for ULEVs. The call for evidence will be launched shortly.

Business Minister Michael Fallon said: “The automotive industry provides thousands of high-quality jobs across the country and we are determined to keep it that way. By setting out the level of our financial support up to 2020 we are demonstrating our long-term commitment and giving business the confidence to invest. We will keep working in partnership with industry on where our investment can best drive growth as we support the transition to ultra low emission vehicles.”

Related Content

  • Institute calls for high-level strategy for UK’s strategic road network
    September 3, 2012
    With Britain’s busy roads accounting for 90 per cent of motorised travel in the UK for business and leisure purposes, the UK’s Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) is calling on the Government to speed up its development of a proper high level strategy and funding package for Britain’s strategic roads network. Steve Agg, chief executive of CILT, said: ‘The strategic road network is vital to the efficiency of transport and its contribution to economic growth. Developing a long-term strateg
  • Britain ‘may be out of Europe but it's not out of business’ says FTA
    June 24, 2016
    Following the UK vote to leave the European Union, with votes of 52 per cent for Leave and 48 per cent for Remain, Patrick Flaherty, chief executive – UK & Ireland, AECOM, said the country faces a period of change and uncertainty and business must play a stabilising role. “A positive, long-term focus on the future is required despite a referendum result that we and many businesses did not want,” he commented. The Freight Transport Association (FTA) says coming out of union risks new costs, restrictions a
  • £100m UK C/AV site opens next March
    November 30, 2020
    Assured CAV plans to develop and test vehicles safely 'at the limit of controllability'
  • Mega trends will challenge transport technology
    June 5, 2015
    Jon Masters investigates some of the longer term trends that will shape transportation over the next 20 years. Business analysts and investors have already placed their bets on a future of technological smart mobility services. In December last year, the Wall Street Journal reported that Uber, the on-demand taxi and lift share smartphone app and start-up business, had been valued at $41.2 billion which, as the Journal reported, is an incredible vote of confidence for a company only five years old.