HM Treasury has kicked-off the King Review of low carbon cars by calling for evidence from interested parties, with fleets listed as one of the groups who should respond.
The review, to be authored by Professor Julia King of Aston University, was originally announced by Chancellor and Prime Minister in-waiting Gordon Brown in the 2007 Budget.
“The review will examine the vehicle and fuel technologies which over the next 25 years could help to decarbonise road transport, particularly cars,” said a Treasury spokesman.
“It will consider the existing evidence on technologies to reduce the carbon emissions from vehicles and examine whether, over a 25-year time frame, decarbonisation may be most cost effectively delivered through incremental evolution of existing technologies, through growing competing niches or via more radical transformational approaches.
King said: “Road transport emissions account for approximately 20% of the UK’s CO2 emissions. Reduction of these emissions, in the UK and internationally, is likely to be one of the most significant challenges in meeting our environmental ambitions and tackling climate change. We are therefore keen to obtain a wide range of inputs from relevant parties to support our review of this critical area.”
The review will look at research and development and pay particular attention to the competitiveness of the UK’s manufacturing sector.
“It will assess the scope for the UK automotive and fuels sector to benefit from the transition to a decarbonised road transport system, how a shift in favour of lower carbon vehicle options can be achieved and how best to influence the global adoption of lower carbon technologies, including in the most rapidly expanding vehicle markets around the world. It will involve discussion with a range of stakeholders, including with the automotive sector, fuel suppliers and those involved in the development of next generation fuel systems, the investment and venture capital community, vehicle fleet operators (public and private) and academic experts,” added the Treasury spokesman.