Roadtransport.com's intrepid lorry crime reporter Jo Bourke sent us this link and we were quite amazed at what we saw. CO2Sense, a Yorkshire-based non-profit organisation is conducting a demonstration project looking at the commercial viability of recycled vegetable oil and its effectiveness at reducing CO2 emissions.
Following on from our earlier entry on the Volvo FE Hybrid refuse truck, we find out that it's actually here in Britain. The vehicle is being trialled by Veolia in the City of Westminster, London, and will be tasked with keeping the mean streets of the City (plus the air for that matter) clean.
The hybrid setup is said to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 30% and that's not only down to the hybird system. Oh no sireee. It's got this fancy battery-powered compactor body (independant from the powertrain) that negates the need for a power takeoff. The lithium-ion batteries are then recharged back at base after the shift is done.
We had a close look at the beast at a launch event today in London and we couldn't believe how quiet the vehicle is at low speed. We've had a go in the DAF LF hybrid and while it was an interesting prospect the diesel engine never completely turned off when in battery mode unlike the Volvo.
If you don't believe me, watch the video.
After signing a deal with Ford in the US to co-develop a Transit Connect EV next year, Azure Dynamics has secured an tidy order from FedEx for 51 hybrid vans. The new LCVs are based on Ford's E450 chassis (those classic American vans the bad guys/CIA guys always seem to use in films) and when they arrive they will add to FedEx's existing hybrid fleet of 274.
More damning evidence against the electric vehcile revolution, this time from the Evironmental Transport Association (ETA). A mjor report conducted on behalf of ETA says that while electric vehicles (like the Smith Edison and Newton and Modec) do demonstrate significant environmental benefits, these are wholly dependant on the manner of electricty generation and energy taxation.
Andrew Davis, ETA director, says: "While the report is not intended to dampen enthusiasm for electric vehicles their introduction should not be viewed as a panacea; significant changes to the way we produce and tax power are needed before we will reap any benefits."
Without boring you to death with the whole report, the key findings were:
Hybrid tech has been around for a some time now mainly in the passenger car market (see Toyota Prius and Honda Insight), although it hasn't completely caught on in the truck sector, until now.
The clever guys at America's National Research Council (NRC) examined the so-called 'hidden costs of energy production and use; in particular the effect air pollution has on peoples' health.
The electric (commercial) vehicle age could be closer than you think after roadtransport.com found that the Newcastle council is planning to introduce a whole fleet of EVs operating from a peripheral distribution centre.
News reaching FFD is that the UK Sustainable Bio-diesel Alliance (UKSBA) is turning up the heat on the UK government to prevent them removing the 20p tax differential on biofuels.
Chairman of the UKSBA Mark Sneesby said that removing the tax buffer in April next year would "undermine the UK's growing low-carbon economy by making biodiesel more expensive than fossil fuels and therefore commercially unviable."
Photo: jsbarrie
The government's plan is to rely on this thing called the Renewable Transport Obligation (RTFO), which obliges fuel suppliers to ensure that at least 5% of their forecourt sales come from renewable sources like biodiesel.
Sneesby adds: "Many renewable solutions, such as wind or nuclear, require long-term investment and take many years to fulfil their potential, whilst the sustainable bio-diesel industry is an established and growing economic sector delivering real results in reducing CO2 emissions and providing 'green collar skills.
"The UKSBA is in ongoing constructive discussions with HM Treasury and the Department for Transport as well as other policy makers in Westminster and Europe, proposing that the tax differential is not withdrawn until the RTFO is stable and actually working as a supportive mechanism for the industry.According to the International Energy Agency's (IEA) Task 39, global biodiesel production has increased ten-fold in the past eight years and could double to 21.8bn litres by 2012.
The IEA's report on biodiesel production looked at the 21 leading biofuel producing countries and it showed that nearly 11bn litres was produced in 2008. Bioethanol, too has seen unprecedednted growth since 2000 with 20bn litres produced annually rising to 66bn lfor the whole of last year.
The UK is the sixth largest biodiesel producer making 347m litres of the stuff per annum and there has been no shortage of UK-based hauliers using or trialling biodiesel. The most notable company running biodiesel is 3663 First for Foodservice who use recycled chip fat from the KFC outlets they work with.
But again we get back to the UK government's reluctance to budge on the 20p price differential for biofuels, which is due to fall away next year, and could severely hamper any future development. On the flipside though, the UK government is ploughing alot of funding and resources to the electric vehicle market so maybe they don't belive that biodiesel is the answer...
Last week transport secretary Lord Adonis launched the NewcastleGateshead Advanced Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Programme.
The brief says: "The Transport Secretary visited Newcastle Civic Centre to inspect the first of 40 charging points for electric vehicles that will be installed on Tyneside in the coming weeks and months in a range of locations, such as public buildings, retail centres and on the roadside."
Photo: trasroid
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