Last update: 17 May 2013
Work commissioned within the Low Carbon Fuels (LCF) research programme provides support for the Government policy of promoting the use of more fuel-efficient, cleaner and quieter vehicles, and the introduction of cleaner fuels. The programme focuses on technological and fiscal means of reducing the impact of transport on the environment - including climate change emissions.
Note for reader:
The Cleaner Fuels and Vehicles (CFV) programme no longer exists. The Department has been restructured with effect from 2011 (the new organogram can be found at this website address: www.dft.gov.uk/about/dftorganisationchart). This means that the sub-programmes and projects in CFV will need to be reassigned and other updates completed. Some of the programmes will themselves need to be rescoped. This is underway and will be completed in due course.
Better Information; Persuasion; Overcoming Market Barriers
This stream deals with strategies to provide vehicle buyers and users with better, more accessible and more forceful information on vehicle use and environmental impacts. Also, strategies for persuading buyers and users to make more environmentally beneficial choices; and measures to overcome 'market failure' issues needlessly preventing buyers and users making environmentally beneficial decisions in the market place.
Cleaner Vehicle Policies and Initiatives
This stream informs and evaluates measures to promote cleaner, more efficient or quieter vehicles, including retrofitting measures to existing vehicles.
This stream deals with the economic aspects and implications of policies and options, including policies on transport taxes, air quality, noise and measures relating to CO2. This may cover studies of factors influencing decisions on vehicle purchase and use; and the development of methodologies for measuring the outcomes of policy changes and initiatives.
This stream of work deals with the Department's Vehicle Market Model, which forecasts the future fuel efficiency of the national vehicle fleet, taking into account changes in the composition of the fleet over time. The model provides the basis for forecasting CO2 emissions and future costs of motoring. The models need regular updating and development to take account of the latest data and policy developments.
This stream deals with strategies for appropriate taxation of vehicles and fuels, including fiscal incentives for cleaner vehicles.
The Foresight Vehicle Programme is a major initiative of Government which was established to bring together UK resources and expertise to create components and systems for the vehicles of the future. The main aim of this programme is to develop, demonstrate and promote technology for vehicles that will be available to the mass market by 2020. This new technology will work towards targets that include reducing congestion, increasing safety, and improving air quality. The projects support the objectives in the 10 yr plan for transport.
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