Cutting emissions from transport must be a priority to create a cleaner country
IN 2016, transport became the largest greenhouse gas emitting sector in the UK, at 26 per cent edging energy supplies into second place at 25 per cent. The Scottish Government’s ambitions to expand the electric charging infrastructure and introduce Low Emissions Zones in our cities was highlighted, while others at the conference spoke of the challenges of driving toward a cleaner Scotland.
Ellie Grebenik, senior manager at the Energy Savings Trust’s Scottish Transport programme said there was a need to challenge the status quo and overcome the barriers to a greater Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) uptake – among which are the perceived cost of vehicles and range anxiety.
However, almost 60 vehicles are on the Office for Low Emission Vehicles’ approved list and eligible for a plug-in grant, while all major manufacturers are committed to producing models of ULEVS. Plus, there are interest free low carbon transport loans up to £100,000 available to Scottish businesses and £35,000 to residents with significantly increased funds becoming available this financial year and 50 per cent to 100 per cent grant funding for charging infrastructure. “ULEV driving requires a change in some driving habits to maximise use of the technology and Fuelgood fuel efficient driver training is available,” she added.
APT Controls Group develops solutions around the safe movement and management of vehicles and people for the future urban environment. Chief technical officer Tom Buck, also speaking as a board member of the UK Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Association (UKEVSE) had an encouraging message for the ‘range anxious’.
“The media generally still focus on why we will fail rather than the we have to gain – but there’s something they have got right: there’s no point in separating the
charging infrastructure and cars. And up to 90 per cent of the cars on the market or coming on to the market today can use the existing charging infrastructure.”
Plus, he said, 94 per cent of trips were less than 25 miles, with 3 per cent between 25 and 50 miles and another 3 per cent above 50 miles. With our current car usage, he stressed, EV’S are a practical option. Also cost was not necessarily a deal breaker when it came to electric vehicles. “The average price of a new car in 2015 was £30,000, so anyone in that market can afford to buy and electric car.” However, as only a third of cars are bought new that means 66 per cent are bought on the second-hand market, which will take time to catch up.
So, asked Buck, what does this mean? “On current evidence it is perfectly possible for 90 per cent of workers to go fully electric using AC charger if we have the right infrastructure strategy. We shouldn’t pretend that there aren’t challenges.” He added: “Driving an electric car requires a lot more thought and planning and while 80 per cent of charging will take at place at home, not all people have access to off-street parking and we have to work to find solutions for real-world users.”
However, with air pollution resulting in 40,000 premature deaths in the UK every year and only active smoking killing more people, the ‘as you were’ option is quite simply no longer an option at all.