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LowCVP reports show the way to transport decarbonisation

A new series of reports for the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) says that the UK can develop the infrastructure necessary to deliver the low carbon fuels of the future but that strong coordination is needed between key actors.
LowCVP reports show the way to transport decarbonisation

Initial public support will be needed to kick-start investment in the necessary infrastructure. The research, conducted by consultants Element Energy, finds that the deployment of the public refuelling infrastructure that is necessary for the UK to meet its carbon emission reduction targets for transport will require investment of more than £10 billion by 2050. It will also require long-term policy clarity and consistent government and regulatory support.

The reports were presented at the LowCVP’s Annual Conference on June 24th in Westminster, with responses from leading stakeholders. They complement earlier work, particularly that by the Automotive Council - a government-industry collaboration - which focused on the transition to lower carbon powertrains and fuels. The Automotive Council vehicle roadmaps provided a critical backdrop to these new reports.

“The Infrastructure Roadmaps provide much of the missing information that was needed to give policymakers and key industrial actors with a clear overview of the road to decarbonisation in terms of transport fuels” said Jonathan Murray, LowCVP’s Policy and Operations Director.

Celine Cluzel, the lead author for Element Energy, added that the transport refuelling system of the future will be very different from today – more diverse but also more integrated with the existing energy networks. The new reports show that there is still scope for many innovations and R&D, which is an opportunity for the UK to seize.

The reports were written with input from a wide range of expert industry and government stakeholders and are divided into five parts: A summary report and roadmaps for four different fuel streams: liquid fuels; methane; electricity and hydrogen. The researchers found that the existing vehicle electrification network, utilising smart technologies, is well suited to the electrification of transport and that the growing electrification of (mainly) cars will present a peak demand but not a production challenge.

However, they also found that millions of mainly residential charge points will be needed to support widespread EV deployment and that progress is constrained by uncertainty over future charging technologies. The report recommends the rollout of a visible, accessible and reliable public charging network for light vehicles.

Other reports generated by the research focused on the opportunities to convert heavy duty vehicles to natural gas but that regulatory barriers need to be addressed. The research also highlights the medium and long-term potential of hydrogen as a vehicle fuel. Initial infrastructure investments will require financial support from government, and local government can also play a key role in providing ‘base load’ by adopting hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles in public fleets. Hydrogen demand from a range of vehicle types, from passenger cars to commercial vehicles and buses, will be needed to sustain the infrastructure during this early phase. A transition to profitable, private sector investments in order to build a UK-wide refuelling network should be possible beyond 2020 due to decreases in fuel cell vehicle costs and access to low cost, low carbon hydrogen. This should provide the same level of convenience to customers as the infrastructure for petrol and diesel cars does today.

The reports predict that post 2030, the drive for more fuel efficient engines and the introduction of other road transport fuels will inevitably reduce demand for traditional liquid fuels, thereby putting pressure on the commercial viability of the existing forecourt network, particularly in rural locations.

For additional information:

Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP)

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