Transport industry could help Britain meet 2010 Kyoto targets

Britain is set to fall short of its own target of cutting carbon emissions by 20% by 2010 according to a recent report by the BBC.

However, the British transport industry could help the Government get closer to these targets if just one in 10 of the UK’s trucks were fitted with Clean Air Power’s (CAP) Dual FuelTM diesel/natural gas conversion.

Each Clean Air Power truck saves 7 tonnes of carbon emissions and reduces fuel costs by £11,000 per annum. If you fit those to 10% of trucks (around 42,000) with the CAP Genesis system then the Government would be 300,000 tonnes closer to achieving the 2010 Kyoto emissions limit, plus the vehicles will have used several million litres less fuel into the bargain.

Clean Air Power’s chief executive John Pettitt believes the transport industry should soon accelerate its ‘green’ debate for fear of being left behind.

“Generally the transport industry is way behind other industries in looking at how it can reduce its impact on the environment.

“We are in danger of being dictated to by Government if we don’t accelerate the debate. Euro 4 and 5 go some way to cleaning up the industry’s act, but it must be just one part of an overall strategy to reduce our environmental footprint.

“Better route planning, the use of in-cab telematics, better use of return loads and the consideration of rail freight as part of an integrated logistics support function must all be considered,” said Pettitt.

This call for a green debate comes on the back of CAP having supplied more than 200 Dual Fuel trucks to operators in the past four years, with some other high profile operators trialling its DAF and Mercedes adapted tractor units.

“We are seeing more operators enquire about our Dual Fuel system in the UK and we are soon to deliver our first left hand drive truck into Europe. Gas power is more available in Europe for cars and light commercials, so operators are keen to hear about the benefits our conversion can bring,” said Pettitt.