Reducing road transport emissions

Grantham Institute for Climate Change briefing paper sums up essential steps as Imperial launches electric and hybrid vehicle research network <em>- News Release</em>

Imperial College London Media Invitation and News Release Under strict embargo
00.01 BST Tuesday 12 October 2010

Radical changes in vehicle technologies and fuel and energy sources will be essential if the UK is to meet its commitment of 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, according to a new briefing paper on road transport technologies published today (12 October 2010) by the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London.

"Road transport makes a significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions across the world, with the UK having one of the poorer emissions track records in Europe," says lead author Dr David Howey from Imperial's Department of Mechanical Engineering. "This briefing paper provides a technical review of low carbon vehicle options, which is relevant whether you are responsible for developing new technologies, making policy decisions, or considering buying a new car."

The briefing paper is aimed at policy makers, investors, business, industry and members of the general public, highlighting immediate and future research priorities. It also outlines the policy changes required to reduce emissions rapidly, and suggests a range of options and some timescales for when they might need to be implemented.

Around half of cars on the road may need to be electric vehicles by 2035 to reduce carbon emissions, according to paper.

In the paper, the authors outline the technological changes required to reduce emissions from road transport by 80%. The scale of the challenge means that incremental improvements using existing technologies are not sufficient to meet the UK's 2050 targets. For example, by 2035, around half our cars may need to be electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids, with a substantial amount of power grid decarbonisation, and significant biofuel use in the remaining non-electric vehicles. Both of these represent big challenges.

The authors stress that these changes can only be achieved through consistent political support, with long-term government policies encompassing multiple sectors including automotive manufacturers and the oil and power industry.

The paper focuses on the UK and Europe, but is also globally relevant. The need to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of conventional vehicles in the short term, and for an accelerated shift towards low carbon vehicles and fuels in the medium to long term, is relevant throughout the world. The paper also highlights research areas that are as yet unresolved, such as the likely impact of large numbers of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles on the generating capacity of the grid, and uncertainty over land availability for biofuels.

The paper coincides with the launch of the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research Network by Imperial's Energy Futures Lab, which will pull together the breadth and depth of the College's research expertise in areas that include turbocharging and engine downsizing, fuel cells, batteries, electric motors, power electronics and vehicle architecture. The network aims to build multidisciplinary research collaborations to reduce vehicle lifecycle emissions, and to provide new research on hybrid and electric vehicles for Government and industry.

The new research network is led by Dr Ricardo Martinez-Botas, from Imperial's Department of Mechanical Engineering, another author of the briefing paper, and an expert in engine turbochargers: "The move to low-carbon vehicles needs to embrace the significant and affordable changes that engineering can make, and recognise that short to medium term solutions will be essential. For example, by 2025, all passenger vehicles need to be using best-in-class internal combustion engines. The accompanying transition to alternative fuels and new transport infrastructures will require radical transformations to the current industry, markets and policy framework."

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For further information please contact:

Colin Smith
Research Media Officer
Imperial College London
Email: cd.smit@imperial.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)20 7594 6712
Out of hours duty press officer: +44(0)7803 886 248

Notes to Editors:

1. Road transport technology and climate change mitigation: Grantham Institute for Climate Change Briefing Paper 2 by Dr David Howey, Dr Robin North and Dr Ricardo Martinez-Botas is available. Click here to download copy.

2. The launch of the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research Network takes place 17.00-19.00, Tuesday 12 October, at Imperial's South Kensington Campus. The launch will include talks by Professor Nigel Brandon, Director of Imperial's Energy Futures Lab and Dr Ricardo Martinez-Botas, Reader in Turbomachinery and Research Network Leader. To attend the launch and meet Imperial researchers working in this field, please contact Colin Smith, Media Officer, on cd.smith@imperial.ac.uk.

3. About the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London The Grantham Institute for Climate Change is committed to driving climate change related research and translating it into real world impact. Established in February 2007 with a £12.8 million donation over ten years from the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, the Institute's researchers are developing both the fundamental scientific understanding of climate change, and the mitigation and adaptation responses to it.

The Institute intends that this work should be directly relevant to policy and decision makers. The Grantham Institute is unique among climate change research centres because it is situated at the heart of Imperial College London, one of the world's leading science, technology and medicine universities. The policy and outreach work that the Institute carries out is based on, and backed up by, the leading edge research of the College's academic staff.

Website: www.imperial.ac.uk/climatechange

4. About the Energy Futures Lab at Imperial College London The Energy Futures Lab, an institute of Imperial College London, is the focal point for multidisciplinary energy research across the College and aims to play a leading role in setting the energy agenda over the next 20 to 50 years. Its goal, through its networks, is to develop new cross-faculty research programmes that will meet the broad energy challenges that we face and facilitate the transition to a sustainable energy future. The Energy Futures Lab also has an award-winning educatio n and outreach programme, training the next generation of energy engineers, scientists, policy makers and business leaders. Website: www.imperial.ac.uk/energyfutureslab

5. About Imperial College London Consistently rated amongst the world's best universities, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts 14,000 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality. Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and business, delivering practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.

Since its foundation in 1907, Imperial's contributions to society have included the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography and the foundations of fibre optics. This commitment to the application of research for the benefit of all continues today, with current focuses including interdisciplinary collaborations to improve global health, tackle climate change, develop sustainable sources of energy and address security challenges.

In 2007, Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust formed the UK's first Academic Health Science Centre. This unique partnership aims to improve the quality of life of patients and populations by taking new discoveries and translating them into new therapies as quickly as possible.

Website: www.imperial.ac.uk