The automotive sector is facing a global seismic change, warned Philippa Oldham, head of National Network Programmes, Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), at last month's Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum on the next steps for low emissions vehicles. Against the backdrop of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warning that we've got just 12 years to get serious about limiting the global temperature rise of 1.5C; and the 'Road to Zero' setting the expectation that at least 50% ideally 70% of UK car sales being zero emission capable by 2030, she said the shift from our traditional internal combustion engines needs to be addressed. The APC was formed in 2013 through a partnership between industry and government, with a target to match-fund £1bn over the course of 10 years to the UK in low-carbon propulsion R&D technology. Its achievement is measured in C02 targets. It's estimated that 26% of UK greenhouse gas emissions come from transport.
Gilbarco Veeder-Root has made a minority investment in Tritium, a privately held electric vehicle (EV) charging manufacturer.
When it comes to electric vehicles (EVs) their capabilities and how they'll be charged there always seems to be more questions than answers.
Fuel retailers have experienced unsettling times recently. For years there has been steady growth of diesel vehicles versus petrol, but this has suddenly gone into reverse. Then there were lurid headlines claiming the end was nigh for the industry when the government announced plans to deal with air pollution, and mentioned not for the first time that it aimed to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040.
OPW has developed a new range of Fibrelite GRP below ground remote fill systems, after BP approached it to provide a simple fill solution for its more compact UK sites.
Junction 23 Lorry Park has upgraded its AdBlue facilities ten years after they were first installed.
While the world hasn't yet arrived at the vision created by the 'Back to the Future' film trilogy, which suggested today's vehicles might be powered by processed waste, we are beginning to see the advent of what has always been regarded as a fuel of the future hydrogen.
A hydrogen refuelling station is to be built on the London forecourt of an un-named "major global fuel retailer", with proposals for a further roll-out.
Successive governments have claimed they want to cut the red tape tying businesses in knots, and then piled on plenty more, but changes introduced on October 1 really have simplified the regulatory framework for petrol filling stations.
With electric vehicle charge points springing up in city centres and motorway service stations, and falling road fuel sales, you could be excused for fearing the days of petrol and diesel as the main fuel for cars were nearly over, but most experts agree both will have a strong presence for decades to come.
How the media loves a scare story. 'Nearly nine million cars could be incompatible with new fuel' screamed one headline earlier this year, while 'E10 could add £80 to a family's annual driving costs' screamed another. If only Michael Winner was still with us to say 'Calm down dear'.
The introduction of a new fuel with a higher ethanol content E10 has been delayed. Specification for the new fuel had been tipped to be signed off for introduction into the UK by the end of this year, but last month the government signalled that its position on E10 had changed.