Big names lead the UK's low carbon transport transition

A new campaign called UK Know How has thrown the spotlight on Britain’s world-leading low carbon capabilities and low carbon transport is at the forefront.

Loughborough University hosts the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), which works to promote low carbon technology.

Cenex, also based at Loughborough, is a government initiative aiming to promote UK market development and competitiveness in low carbon and fuel cell technologies for transport applications. The UK has committed £350million to encourage the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles and develop low carbon technologies essential to the future of the automotive industry.

Electric cars

In June and July, 25 Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric cars entered operation with public sector organisations as part of the Low Carbon Vehicle Public Procurement programme (LCVPP), managed by Cenex and funded by the Department for Transport’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). Cenex offered stakeholders the opportunity to purchase or lease the vehicles at less than half the original price; and, during the vehicle demonstrations, Mitsubishi and Cenex gathered data on vehicle performance.

In June, the Toyota Plug In Hybrid Vehicle (PHV) Demonstration Project, also administered by Cenex, was launched in London.

Nissan and Toyota

The UK is also becoming a centre of electric car manufacturing. In March, Japanese giant Nissan announced that it will make The Leaf in Sunderland from early 2013; and, in April, construction of the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s first European plant for the production of advanced lithium-ion batteries began.

And in June, at Toyota’s plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire, Auris HSD - the first full hybrid vehicle in Europe - rolled off the production line. Engines for the car, the first to be produced outside Japan, will be built at Deeside in north Wales.

At the launch, Didier Leroy, President of Toyota Motor Europe, said: “A new chapter is opening today as Britain, a traditional origin of industrial innovation, becomes home to the manufacture of the first full hybrid vehicle for Europe.”

Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, welcomed the vehicle’s launch noting: “Toyota’s decision to make Burnaston the only plant in the world to build the Hybrid Auris is a strong endorsement of the UK as a manufacturing base for the next generation of cars.

“It is sending a signal to manufacturers that if you’re not in the UK, then you’re missing out on all the strengths and skills that the UK has to offer.”

International investment in aerospace

Multinational names are attracted to the UK with a view to tapping into its low carbon know how. For example, composite materials are increasingly used to improve efficiency in the aerospace, automotive and wind turbine industries. Bristol’s Advanced Composites Centre for Innovation and Science (ACCIS) – a major focus for composites research - has forged partnerships with global companies including Airbus, Rolls Royce, GE Aviation, and Danish company Vestas, a world-leading provider of wind power.

Wind power

In July, the windpower division of Siemens confirmed that it had secured UK government grant money to develop a next-generation 6MW offshore turbine on the Isle of Wight.

“Offshore wind will be very significant in the energy mix as we move to low carbon, sustainable energy supplies,” said Secretary of State for Energy Chris Huhne. “The UK has a wealth of natural resource and coastlines for offshore wind.”