Posts tagged ‘green motoring’
Green Motoring a possibility
By Sibusiso Mvitsho (s.mvitsho@my.westminster.ac.uk)
The future looks green as the government is encouraging car makers to make motoring greener and help save the environment from carbon emissions.
As the Transport secretary, Geoff Hoon announced a new green motoring initiative as part of wider government plan to make the most of low carbon economy, a new generation of public service vehicles is being introduced.
Postal vans, police vehicles and ministerial limousines are part of the green plan to speed up the introduction of low emission technology on Britain’s roads.
A number of ministers in the climate change secretary, Ed Miliband are according to the Guardian newspaper, chauffeured in petrol-electric hybrid cars.
All of the Department of Transport’s official cars are hybrids.
Speaking at a meeting for international experts in electric car technology, Geoff Hoon said: “Electric cars and other low carbon vehicles, like plug in hybrids, cut fuel costs and reduce harmful emissions.”
He added: “If we can inspire more people to use them, it will help us to make a positive impact on climate change.”
Electric cars
Electric cars are powered by an electric motor rather than a normal car engine. From the outside it is not obvious that a car is electric with the only likely clue being the very quiet engine.
They create less pollution than fuel powered cars, so they are environmentally friendly compared to the counterpart.
Though the outside of the cars are virtually the same, the inside has a number of differences:
· The fuel engine is replaced by an electric motor.
· The electric motor gets its power from a controller.
· The controller gets its power from an array of rechargeable batteries.
The problem
There are already several electric car models on the market such as the Toyota Prius hybrid.
The main problem stopping the number of electric cars in use is not the car technology but the power infrastructure needed to make them practical.
A few private electric car charging points are available at local councils in London but these will not be able to cater for a large number of owners.
GOVERNMENT LAUNCHING GREEN MOTORING SCHEME
By Sibusiso Mvitsho (s.mvitsho@my.westminster.ac.uk)
The Government is launching new schemes to promote the benefits of green motoring and create thousands of jobs.
Car companies have been given the opportunity to take part in a £10m project to run electric and ultra-low carbon vehicles demonstration projects.
The Idea
The project overseen by the Technology Strategy board, will introduce around 100 green cars to various cities and towns.
It is hoped this encourage motorists to get involved with green motoring and give feedback on the cars and the steps needed to make green motoring an everyday reality.
The project could leads to the creation of 10,000 new British jobs, as the scheme is part of a wider Government plan to make the most of the low-carbon economy.
Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said: “We must look at these things not only in terms of the impact on the environment but in terms of the impact of our economy. Using low-carbon vehicles can be cheaper than using their carbon emitting counterparts.”
The Government says the investment is part of its commitment to cutting all greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050.
Research
According to the Independent newspaper, £20m has been dedicated to UK research into improving technology that could make electrical and other green cars more affordable.
The Independent reports this follows research findings which say, correctly managed, UK power stations could support use of electric cars and charging needs without needing large numbers of new power stations.
Who is involved?
The mass production of green vans will be encouraged for the first time as part of a £20m programme to ensure all road transport emissions are reduced.
A number of companies have been shortlisted in an announcement by the Department for Transport to provide electric and low-carbon vans to some councils and public sector bodies like the Royal Mail.
Coventry, Gateshead, Glasgow, Leeds and Liverpool will be among the first to trail green vans on their streets.
The companies are:
- Ford Motor Company
- Ashwoods
- Mercedes-Benz UK
- LDV Group
- Citroen UK
- Nissan UK
- Allied Vehicles
- Land Rover
- Smith Electric Vehicles
email: s.mvitsho@my.westminster.ac.uk
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