IET: Electric vehicles in cities will dramatically improve air quality

Friday, 21 September 2012 3:07 PM

Electric vehicles have an important role to play in improving air quality, particularly in cities.  If electric vehicles are used appropriately in big conurbations, it could help to improve air quality, says Europe’s biggest professional engineers’ body.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) submitted evidence to the Transport Select Committee inquiry into low carbon vehicles. The Committee’s report “Plug in Vehicles, Plugged in Policy?” published today, warns the Government that it must do more to show that its plug-in vehicle strategy is a good use of public money.

Chris Richards, IET Transport Policy Advisor said: “The underlying theme of the Transport Select Committee recommendations is that the Government’s low carbon vehicles programme needs to be reviewed and evaluated.

“The IET is recommending that any such review should look at the population centres and transport applications which would benefit from a more focused approach.

“There is a particular air quality benefit to be gained from the use of electric vehicles in urban areas. Increased incentives to assist adoption in cities could be one way to ensure the vehicles are being targeted on making the biggest impact.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

§  The IET’s evidence to the Transport Select Committee can be viewed http://www.theiet.org/policy/submissions/s939.cfm

§  Interview opportunities are available with IET spokespersons.

§  The IET is Europe’s largest professional body of engineers with over 150,000 members in 127 countries.

§  For more information, visit www.theiet.org.

§  Follow the IET on Twitter.


Media enquiries to:
Robert Beahan, Media Relations Manager
T: +44 (0)1438 767336
M: +44 (0)7595 400912
E: rbeahan@theiet.org

Disclaimer: Press releases published on this page are from key opinion formers who promote their organisation's activities by subscribing to a campaign site within politics.co.uk. politics.co.uk does not endorse, edit, or attempt to balance the opinions expressed on this page. The content of press releases are wholly the responsibility of the originating company or organisation.

Related stories

Climate change policies 'not to blame' for high energy bills

We're 'hooked on fossil fuels', Friends of the Earth says

Efforts to tackle climate change are not responsible for increased energy prices, government advisers have insisted.

comments comments

Gas panic for greens over fracking funding

Gas-powered stations could hit Britain's carbon reduction targets

Up to 30 new gas power stations could be built by 2030, George Osborne is expected to announce tomorrow.

comments comments

Comment: Green leadership begins at home

Craig Bennett is director of policy and campaigns at Friends of the Earth

If international summits are to be more than just heated debates, developed countries such as the UK must step forward to turn the fine words into concrete action.

comments comments

Lib Dems rebel against coalition's carbon deal

Lib Dem party wants a decarbonisation target, but there isn't one in the energy bill

Government whips have suffered a substantial Liberal Democrat rebellion over the decarbonisation target, but the coalition has scraped home with a reduced majority of 23.

comments comments

Comment: More renewable energy doesn't mean less emissions

UK, lowest emmisions, Europe, EU, Germany, carbon reduction, renewable energy, European Environment Agency

Carbon reduction targets, not a slavish devotion to renewable energy, is the real answer to the European energy riddle.

comments comments

Comment: Was Durban a stay of execution for the world's climate?

Andy Atkins is executive director of Friends of the Earth

Progress was made at the Durban climate talks – it's just going to happen ten years too late.

comments comments

Carbon policies 'cost jobs'

Distribution of carbon permits put jobs at risk, a report claims

Europe's distribution of carbon permits may hurt the economy, a report has claimed.

comments comments

Missing decarbonisation target could prompt Lib Dem rebellion

Lib Dem activists voted for a decarbonisation target, but the coalition deal ruled one out

Liberal Democrat whips are facing the prospect of a potential rebellion tonight over the energy bill's missing decarbonisation target.

comments comments

Ministers moot 'carbon credit cards'

David Miliband proposes carbon credit cards

People could be issued with personal carbon allowances which they would spend through a "carbon credit card", under plans being considered by the government.

Government moots personal carbon allowance

New carbon allowances considered to pay for flights, fuel and other energy use

Individuals would be given a personal allowance on how many carbon emissions they could produce, under new plans being considered by the government.

Press Releases

Radars opening up new air traffic and border control opportunities

IET comments on flaws in HS2 plans

IET welcomes expansion of Small Business Research Initiative

IET on Queen's Speech: Commitment needed for entire HS2 route

IET: UK faces a current and future cyber security skills gap

IET: UK team named First Place Champions at Lego League World Festival

Highgate school gets a lesson from IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year

IET: Design & Technology curriculum outdated and not fit for purpose

IET: Happy anniversary - celebrating 40 years of mobile phones

Appointment of Michael Fallon MP as Energy Minister

More Articles ...

Twitter

Join the conversation at #opinion_formers

Related Opinion Former Press Releases

IET Video: HS2: what are the facts?

IET: Culture shift needed to meet Scotland’s green commitments

A culture shift costing billions of pounds is required if Scotland is to meet its climate change obligations, policy makers will be told this week.

IET: The future is low carbon: high performance electric car in town

A super high-performance electric car will be in Newcastle today (Tuesday 2 May) to kick off an event exploring the future of transport in the UK.

Special event coverage

ESRC logo

Festival of Social Sciences: Celebrating the Social Sciences

Evidence-based policy should not be a radical concept. It needs to be celebrated.

ESRC logo

Festival of Social Sciences: 2 languages: 2 brains, 2 minds, 2 cultures?

As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences, the Deafness Cognition And Language Research Centre (DCAL) hosted an event exploring the powerful benefits of bilingualism in spoken and sign languages, for hearing and deaf people alike - benefits that reach hearing and deaf people alike.

Opinion Former Events

Bpas event: Working Together for Women

Join bpas for an informal networking event which will provide an opportunity to talk to others looking to work together to effect policy changes to improve women’s lives and hear from speakers who are doing just that.