Industry News
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<< March 08
Week Commencing 7th April 2008
7th April 2008
Ford to install third Dagenham wind turbine
Ford will add a third wind turbine at Dagenham to power the expansion of its diesel engine manufacturing site. This extra turbine from Ecotricity enables Ford's Dagenham Diesel Centre to remain 100% wind powered following installation of a new 1.4/1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine line.
Ford offers 28 Fiesta, Fusion and Focus models powered by these engines, for which Ford expects demand to increase with London Congestion Charge and VED discounts for low-emissions cars. As a result Ford Dagenham output is on track to top 1m engines this year.
DfT appoints Cenex to develop low carbon vehicle procurement programme
Cenex, the UK’s ‘Centre of Excellence’ for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies, has been appointed as the Department for Transport’s delivery partner to develop the new Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme. The aim of the programme, announced in the May 2007 Energy White Paper, is to accelerate the introduction of lower carbon technologies onto the UK vehicle market, with the ultimate objective of reducing overall carbon emissions from the vehicle fleet.
Adrian Vinsome, Cenex’s Programme Manager for the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme, said: “By providing suppliers with the opportunity to demonstrate the real-world performance of their low carbon technologies in high profile public sector fleets, and providing definite evidence of public sector demand, the programme should promote the introduction of new technology at a small-fleet level.
"Making the transition from single vehicle demonstrators to volume introduction is a well-recognised problem for the industry, particularly for smaller manufacturers, and the programme will help to overcome this barrier. A further consequence of this reduced risk for the manufacturers is that it should also stimulate further innovation, leading to more efficient, lower carbon vehicles for everyone in longer term.”
Initial funding of £20million is available to help meet the additional costs for public sector organisations of procuring innovative, lower carbon vehicles, with the potential of a further £30million if early results are successful. The programme will focus on the development of lower-carbon vans in the first phase, with smaller scale procurements of lower-carbon minibuses, all-electric vans, and plug-in hybrid passenger cars.
Initial public sector partners identified include the Environment Agency, HM Revenue & Customs, the Metropolitan Police, the Royal Mail, Transport for London and the Government Car & Despatch Agency.
(www.cenex.co.uk)