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The Department for Transport (DfT) has revealed plans to boost the UK’s environmentally-aware approach to vehicles, announcing this month (April 6th) that it is to introduce 542 new low-carbon buses onto roads across England by March 2012.
This proclamation certainly reflects standards and trends set by the Geneva Motor Show in March, which saw a wide range of eco-friendly offerings to be released in the coming months and years by leading car manufacturers .
In light of this, the government is sinking £
46 million into the project in order to target further project investment and promote green growth, as well as sustainable local transport. All regions of England will benefit, alongside 20 bus operators and six local authorities.
Low-carbon hybrid-electric buses are already supported by the fund and are operating in London, Oxford, Manchester and Reading. Meanwhile, electric buses are also doing their rounds in Durham. Transport minister Norman Baker is particularly comfortable with this money being spent as he believes it will more than pay for itself in a matter of years.
Justifying the investment, he explained: “Low carbon buses emit around 30 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than standard diesel buses and use around a third less fuel –
that is why it was so important to kick-start the market. They also represent an important and developing industry – both in this country and throughout the world –
which has the potential to create jobs and boost economic growth.”
Mr Baker went on to claim that green technology is “an absolute no brainer” that is “good for society as a whole”.
A number of car and van makers continue to drive towards fully-sustainable car ideas, looking into hydrogen and electric technologies. Peugeot unveiled the iOn earlier in the year, and at the end of March it finished its UK launch tour at London’s City Hall, meeting mayor of London Boris Johnson. It is one of the first zero tailpipe emission cars to go on general sale, with many undoubtedly to follow. Peugeot, also a van maker, has highlighted its desire to expand its line-up of such vehicles.
