Low carbon cars ‘would reduce environmental impact and improve safety’

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A new report by transport researchers Stephen Plowden and Simon Lister Cars Fit for their Purpose: what they would be and how to achieve them provides a series of practical recommendations for designing safety and reduced fuel consumption into every day cars.

Plowden and Lister have examined what environmental improvements are feasible without major investment in technology – the study is based on conventional diesel engines – simply by building cars to more appropriate specifications, in particular by reducing power and weight. The authors argue that the market is unlikely to deliver these changes, which will only come about by governmental intervention.

In this study, low carbon cars’ emissions were found to be about 30% lower than those of their comparators, using the combined NEDC. Apart from the wider environmental and social benefits this translates into a reduction of about £7bn in the amount spent by consumers on fuel for cars and taxis.

“It’s really helpful to have such a thorough and dispassionate analysis of the instantly available options that the Department for Transport and other EU governments could be following up on,” says Jonathon Porritt CBE, Chairman of the UK Sustainable Development Commission. “I also thought it made a great deal of sense to concentrate on those two key aspects – namely, power and weight. So much could be achieved here if we just focused on the design elements of incorporating those into all new cars rolling off the production lines, he adds.”

“This book should be required reading for politicians, transport planners and motor manufacturers,” adds John Stewart, Chair of Campaign for Better Transport Ltd. “It is important to understand that the authors don’t just envisage the eco-car as being a small vehicle. “Their proposal is that vehicles of all sizes could become eco-cars by reducing their power and weight.”

However, Paul Biggs, Director and Environment spokesman for the Association of British Drivers says “Plowden and Lister employ a misguided approach to these problems from an anti-car/anti-driver point of view. They propose draconian state intervention, restrictions and taxation on car use (including unpopular VED and Road Pricing), as well as car choice, along with the implementation of personal carbon allowances.”

Cars Fit for their Purpose: what they would be and how to achieve them is available to Local Transport Today subscribers at www.landorbooks.co.uk at a special price of £49 inclusive of UK postage and packing.