IPPR’s warning over green cars and emissions targets
Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles will need to represent 1.7m of the vehicles on UK roads if emissions targets for 2020 are to be met, so says a British think tank.
The Institute for Public Policy Research’s (IPPR) latest report claims that a lower car emissions targets should be put in place along with a shape-up in research and development into low carbon motor manufacturing.
IPPR warns that fuel duty revenues – which contributed more than 2% of GDP in 2010 – would more than halve in real terms by 2030, dropping by a minimum of £10bn if 1.7m green cars were on the roads.
“Road-user charging is going to need to be carefully introduced to make up for this loss of revenue, building on the forthcoming scheme for HGVs and on the experience of toll roads like the M6,” said Nick Pearce, IPPR Director [pictured].
“To meet our climate change targets, we need to decarbonise road transport over the next decade which means setting a tough target for car emissions of 95g/km by 2020.
“If UK manufacturing is going to be at the forefront of this green cars revolution, we also need an active industrial strategy that backs the best R&D.”
Nick suggests an exhaust pipe emissions standard of 95g/km or better by 2020 and the launch of a scheme to encourage consumers to buy new vehicles below a specified level of emissions and enjoy a rebate paid for out of fees charged on vehicles above the specified level.
The rest of the IPPR’s new report – ‘Untying the knot’ – can be read for free at http://bit.ly/IPPR8106.
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