The Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP) is funded by the Department for Transport, to help public sector organisations procure hundreds of low carbon vehicles, in order to reduce CO2 emissions and develop the low carbon expertise of the UK. For Phase 1 of the programme, £20 million is available to support the procurement of low carbon vehicles, starting with large panel vans and cars. 210 electric and hybrid vans have been ordered through the LCVPP programme and are to enter operation during 2010. The programme objectives are:
- Quantify the benefits of low carbon vehicles
- Validate real world performance of low carbon vehicles.
- Foster a culture change towards low carbon transport.
- Achieve economies of scale for low carbon vehicle manufacturers.
Initial public sector partners include: Coventry City Council, Coventry University, Derbyshire County Council, Doncaster Council, Environment Agency, Gateshead City Council, Glasgow City Council, Government Car and Despatch Agency, Leeds City Council, Liverpool City Council, London Boroughs of Camden, Hackney and Islington, City of London Corporation, Metropolitan Police Service, Newcastle City Council, Nottingham City Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Royal Mail, Transport for London, UK Borders Agency, City of Wakefield Council and the University of Warwick.
Programme News
February 2012 - LCVPP stakeholder meeting
17th January 2012 - OLEV announce an £8,000 grant towards the cost of plug-in electric vans
3rd November 2011 - The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) has announced the next steps for the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme. Ashwoods are to continue through to Phase 2. The funding of up to £1.7 million will mean a further 500 low carbon vans can be purchased by public sector buyers
21st October 2011 - The Allied and Smith vans have completed the range and energy efficiency tests at MIRA to monitor durability after 12 months of operation. The Ashwoods LWB hybrid van has the 12 month test in December 2011
15th June 2011 - Engineers from Modec join Liberty Electric Cars to form a new Electric Vehicle support centre.
17th May 2011 - The next LCVPP Stakeholder Meeting is to be held at Ford College, Loughborough University.
9th May 2011 - The Ashwoods long wheel base hybrid van is now undergoing 6 month testing at MIRA. Energy efficiency of the vehicle is being measured over various drive cycles. Testing is to be completed at the end of May.
12-14th April 2011 - Ashwoods Automotive and Smith Electric Vehicles are both exhibiting at the Commercial Vehicle show.
17th March 2011 - The Smith and Allied vehicles are going through the six-month testing at MIRA over the next three weeks. Energy efficiency and range are being tested to gain an understanding of the performance of electric vehicles over time. Similar tests are carried out after 12 months of operation.
And finally...Did you know the first car made by Porsche (1875-1951) was electric...and the second was a hybrid!