Views on energy-efficiency in vehicles

1. Views on energy-efficiency in vehicles • Environmentalists’ views: • Environmentalist opinion of energy-efficient transport – GREENPEACE • http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/climate/reducing-demand/energy-efficiency • “Implementing energy efficiency measures across the whole country - in energy generation and transmission and consumption, in industry and transport - would cut carbon emissions, create thousands of jobs and save more money than it costs. It's a no brainer.” • We’re campaigning for a zero-emissions transport system - one based on electric vehicles powered by clean energy.  • We urgently need strong and binding targets - set by the EU - that will force manufacturers to produce much more efficient vehicles. The EU has committed to reduce CO2 emissions to minimum efficiency standards of 95g per km for a family car by 2020, but is coming under pressure from manufactures to relax this target. We’re campaigning to make sure it does not slip. • The government also needs to tax gas-guzzling vehicles more highly and, above all, to invest in a more widely accessible, affordable and energy efficient public transport system.

2. Car manufacturers • Infiniti Vehicles • They meet European Standards, attempt to increase end-of-life recyclability and their designers look at making all features as environmentally friendly as possible whilst staying safe and satisfactory. • “From the initial development and design phase of a vehicle to the end of the vehicle’s useful life, Infiniti is focused on maximising customer satisfaction while working to protect the environment.” • “All vehicles must meet the European Union’s local technical requirements before commercialisation in any of the 27 countries. Infiniti works to ensure that these requirements are met to the highest standard.” • “One of the requirements focuses on increasing the recyclability and recoverability of the vehicles at their end-of-life stage.” • “Infiniti designers look at how all features can work to best meet these standards and offer you safe and environmentally friendly vehicles.”

3. Citroen Citroen encourages the use of biofuels, e.g., biodiesel (a blend of diesel fuel and ethanol) & bioethanol (blend of petrol & ethanol). In some countries such as Brazil and Sweden, Citroen sell vehicles using “FlexFuel” technology, which can run on up to 85% ethanol. Furthermore, Citroen have a system to manage waste batteries and ensure they are disposed of properly. Citroen also has a section on their website called “eco-driving”. This explains methods to save fuel whilst driving, such as selecting the right gear, speed control and tyre pressure: Car manufacturers

4. London: Boris Johnson • He is in favour of energy efficient transport. This is very clear because he has set up a cycling scheme in 2007 to persuade more people to cycle and therefore reduce air pollution. • Boris has stated that: “Making London an energy efficient, low carbon city is not only vital to meet environmental challenges, but it will also attract significant new investment into the city and create tens of thousands of jobs for Londoners.” As we can see, he encourages energy efficient transport to be more widely used and thinks that it will create a lot of jobs, showing that he thinks that energy efficiency in transport will benefit everyone greatly.

5. The expanded cycle route, detailed in The Mayor's Vision for Cycling in London will open in 2016 & will run through the western suburbs, central London & Barking. • This is a pro-cycling approach with the aim of doubling cycling over the next 10 yrs. • As part of the "cycling revolution" some dangerous junctions, e.g., at Blackfriars and Vauxhall, will be redesigned. • By 2016 the cycle routes will be created & run parallel to Tube lines & bus routes. • More "semi-segregation" with bikes better separated from other vehicles; • A new network of "Quietways" which will be "direct, continuous, fully-signposted routes on peaceful side streets" which will run into the suburbs; • One of the six traffic lanes from the Westway flyover will be removed; • Substantial improvements to both existing and proposed Superhighways, including some re-routings; • Junctions at Blackfriars, Vauxhall, Tower, Swiss Cottage, Elephant & Castle to be redesigned; • More 20 mph zones; • A new "Central London Grid" of bike routes in the City/West End, using segregation & two-way cycling on one-way traffic streets, to join all the other routes together; • A trial of electric bikes will be conducted, including a small self-contained public electric bike hire scheme.

6. UK government • Reducing greenhouse gases from transport will help the government’s long term goal of reducing the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% compared to 1990 levels by 2050. • Ultra-low emission vehicles, such as electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen powered cars and vans, help cut down greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution on our roads. To encourage more people to drive these vehicles, the government is: • providing grants to those who purchase ultra-low emission vehicles • contributing to the funding of a range of innovative research and development activities through the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) • setting out a framework for the development of a recharging network for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles • continuing to give funding to the Plugged-in Places programme • continuing to set ambitious, but realistic performance standards to deliver emissions reductions from new vehicles – a new car sold today is on average 18% more fuel efficient than the car it replaces

7. Biofuels • Sustainable biofuels (produced with low impact on the environment) can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport. To encourage their production and use, the government is amending the existing Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations (RTFO) order to be fully compliant with the requirements of European legislation, so that they only reward the production of biofuels that deliver greenhouse gas savings and do not cause environmental damage. • Ultra-low emission vehicles: the Local Sustainable Transport Fund and the Green Bus Fund are all helping to reduce air pollution from transport. • The government also provided an extra £10 million of targeted funding in 2011 to improve air quality in London, including a programme to retrofit buses with pollution reducing technology.

8. Consumer attitudes • Buying an electric and hybrid cars generally means paying the "hybrid premium" bump in price for the vehicle. E.G. 2013 normal Ford Fusion has an RP of $23,495. The hybrid model carries a $4,000 price premium, i.e., costs $27,495. • Ford Motors released info from a survey showing the majority of Americans will pay more for green products, and a slightly smaller majority is taking measures to drive more efficiently.    • http://www.torquenews.com/1075/ford-says-consumer-green-attitude-shift-justifies-drive-fuel-efficient-cars.

9. http://www.whatcar.com/green-cars/the-issues/what-part-does-transport-play-/3194604http://www.whatcar.com/green-cars/the-issues/what-part-does-transport-play-/3194604 • Experts agree that car makers have to look at alternative energy sources and that the transport industry and car makers have to take the issue much more seriously. • Top gear magazine - http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/electric-paris

10. Shell • Population growth and economic development are driving energy demand. All energy sources will be needed, with fossil fuels meeting the bulk of demand. At the same time CO2 emissions must be reduced to avoid serious climate change. • To manage CO2, governments and industry must work together. Government action is needed and we support an international framework that puts a price on CO2, encouraging the use of all CO2-reducing technologies. • We believe the best way Shell can help secure a sustainable energy future is by focusing on four main areas: natural gas, biofuels, carbon capture and storage, and energy efficiency. • Mobility – the movement of people and goods – is integral to our daily lives. And demand for it is rising. By 2050 the number of cars on the road is expected to triple, air passenger flights and goods to rise, and the shipping industry to continue its expansion. We are finding innovative ways to help move this growing number of people and goods efficiently. • http://www.shell.com/global/environment-society/environment/climate-change.html • http://www.shell.co.uk/gbr/future-energy/smarter-mobility-tpkg.html

11. Esso (Exxon-Mobil) Our world is constantly on the move. Because of expanding economies and international trade, transportation-related energy demand will increase by more than 40 percent from 2010 to 2040. Most of this demand is driven by commercial sources such as trucks, planes, ships and trains. At the same time, personal vehicles are becoming significantly more energy-efficient. Although the number of cars on the road will about double, advances in automotive technology (such as hybrid cars) keep global personal transportation energy demands relatively steady. • http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/energy_outlook_dm.aspx

12. BP (British Petroleum) • Target Neutral helps us Reduce, Replace and Neutralise the elements of our driving that create CO2 emissions: about 24 per cent of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions in the UK come from road transport. If we can bring that figure down by making more careful personal transport choices we'll have a dramatic total impact. • http://www.bptargetneutral.com/what-you-can-do/