Funding available for emissions technology
HALTON firms are being urged by the Government to compete for up to £15m funding to develop technology reducing harmful emissions from lorries.
Roads minister Jesse Norman has called on businesses across the UK to lead research into low emission technology for lorries, as well as cars and vans.
A Department For Transport (DFT) spokesman said the projects could see materials which make vehicles lighter, or improve the efficiency of engines or batteries.
Mr Norman said: “We have made important progress in lowering emissions and are always looking at further ways of improving air quality.
“Lorries cause a third of the UK’s transport CO₂ emissions and simple new technologies can have the greatest impact in reducing the harmful pollutants of freight.
“This funding will give UK companies the chance to lead the world in developing important innovations to improve air quality across the country.” ●
The Government is continuing to find innovative ways of improving air quality across the country. The competition has been developed with Innovate UK and the DFT spokesman said it will help the Government achieve its ambition to be a global leader in electric vehicle technology and to see all new vehicles emission free by 2040.
Innovate UK’s director of manufacturing and materials Simon Edmonds said: “We welcome this significant further investment in zero emission research and development funding, in particular its focus on freight and commercial vehicles as this is a major opportunity for UK companies to drive forward innovations.”
The first of the projects in the Government’s low emission freight and logistics trial, announced earlier this year, has led to new electric and hydrogen dual-fuel vehicles being used.
By mid-2018, more than 300 of these low emission vehicles will be on UK roads.