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Jamieson gives green light for Natural Gas Vehicles

3rd May 2002 (Source: DTLR )

Transport Minister David Jamieson today invited vehicle manufacturers to apply for grants to demonstrate new natural gas vehicles. He also pledged to encourage European Union Member States to develop the market for natural gas across Europe.

Speaking at the Commercial Vehicle show at the NEC in Birmingham David Jamieson said:

"We want to make our towns and cities cleaner and quieter places in which to live and work. We've already made good progress in cutting vehicle emissions and noise, but more can be done. We are working in close co-operation other European Countries to maximise for industry and society the positive outcomes which the greater use of cleaner vehicles brings.

"Natural gas vehicles are part of the solution. They offer transport operators an opportunity to contribute to a cleaner, quieter environment as well as saving them money on their fuel bills."

David Jamieson continued:

"We will encourage the wider availability of natural gas vehicles by offering demonstration grant funding through the Energy Saving Trust's TransportAction initiative. This will support part of the cost of introducing new natural gas vehicles on to the market. I now invite the industry to come forward with their proposals."

The Natural Gas Vehicle Association also used the occasion to announce a target for natural gas to displace 10% of diesel fuel consumed by commercial vehicles by 2010. David Jamieson welcomed the target, saying:

"The NGVA's announcement demonstrates the ambition and long term commitment of the natural gas industry to making natural gas vehicles a success in the UK.

"I welcome their initiative and wish them success in increasing the use of natural gas, which will be of benefit to us all."

Notes to Editors
Natural gas vehicles

Vehicles powered by natural gas - essentially the same product as used for domestic cooking and heating - can offer substantial environmental benefits, in particular compared to equivalent diesel vehicles. They are much quieter than diesels and emit lower levels of the two air pollutants of most concern in the UK - particulates and oxides of nitrogen.

In the UK there are currently around 800 natural gas vehicles, most of which are heavier depot-based commercial vehicles such as delivery vans and trucks and refuse vehicles.

Energy Saving Trust's TransportAction initiative

The Energy Saving Trust was established by the Government as part of its response to the Rio Climate Change Convention. The Trust's TransportAction initiative, which is funded mainly by DTLR, aims to reduce the damaging effects of transport on the environment through its PowerShift and CleanUp programmes.

PowerShift provides grants towards the additional cost of purchasing gas or electric vehicles. CleanUp campaign provides grants towards the cost of fitting emissions reduction equipment to the most polluting diesel vehicles. Further information on these initiatives can be found at www.transportaction.org.uk

The total budget for PowerShift and CleanUp for 2002/03 is roundly £20m.

TransportAction demonstration grants

The TransportAction CleanUp and PowerShift demonstration programme supports projects involving near market-ready clean fuel vehicle and engine technologies with the potential to provide significant environmental benefits. Applications are now invited from organisations developing natural gas vehicles and engines.

Applications will be individually assessed and funding granted according to the potential and the cost effectiveness of the project compared with competitive projects. TransportAction will meet up to a maximum of 50% of the eligible project costs.

Further details as well as an application form can be found at:
http://www.est-powershift.org.uk/ps_demo_projects.cfm

In the last financial year TransportAction granted over £1m in demonstration grants to support the demonstration and introduction of exhaust after treatment devices, hybrid vehicles and alternative fuels. This is the first time applications for natural gas vehicle technologies have been explicitly invited.

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