Isra-Mart srl : Government outlines necessary changes in low carbon commercial vehicle design

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Isra-Mart srl news:

The Government has launched a roadmap outlining a specific time frame for moving toward low carbon commercial vehicle and construction equipment design and manufacturing.
The Commercial Vehicle and Off-Highway Technology Roadmap has been published by the Government-created Automotive Council and explains the changes that need to be made to commercial vehicles and over what time period in order to reduce CO2 emissions and improve air quality.

Heavy goods vehicles, such as bulldozers, lorries and buses, account for about 20 per cent of domestic transport greenhouse gas emissions, but current CO2 regulations apply only to cars. The report takes into account the possibility of regulations on medium and heavy-duty vehicles, starting in 2020. It states that in order for the UK to meet its 2050 carbon dioxide reduction goal of 80 per cent, commercial and off-highway vehicles will need to change.

"Work on lowering carbon emissions from cars is well underway. Now we need to look at other parts of the sector and how they can help meet our long-term obligations on CO2 and air quality targets," said Vince Cable, Business Secretary and co-chair of the Automotive Council. "This roadmap will help companies make the right investment choices as well as promote UK innovation and technology."

Design changes
In the roadmap, vehicles are broken down into three major categories: light, medium and heavy-duty 'cycles’. These include tractors, fork lifts, bulldozers, mobile cranes, crawler excavators, buses, light duty delivery trucks (like vans) as well as heavy duty trucks (like lorries). Each will need to undergo specific changes, but the roadmap suggests that all vehicles will need to be designed to be more aerodynamic and lighter weight. It also suggests all engines will all need improvements to the combustion and emission control systems as well as reducing friction.

Biofuels and hybridization are also key components of the roadmap. It states that making energy storage cost effective will be essential in making medium and light duty cycle vehicles commercially viable. Further development of fuel cell technology is also seen as critical in making these vehicles available to the entire market.

"The roadmap provides a strategic focus for the UK's research and technology base to work in partnership with industry in these key sectors," said Richard Parry-Jones, Automotive Council co-chair. "As well as accelerating the pace of innovation and new product development, it will help ensure the UK maintains its position at the cutting edge of the low carbon automotive revolution."