Jason Airey, founding WCRAQ member CMS SupaTrak Managing Director, deputised for Barry Sheerman MP and Working Party Chair Richard Wenham and welcomed the Energy, Fuels & Vehicles attendees across the industry, including Allison Transmission, Biffa, Dennis Eagle, ECLF, GPS Marine, and Ubico.
Technologies ranging from drop-in fuels, such as HVO, electric, and hydrogen were discussed, in context of what attendees could realistically envision to be the future of UK fleets.
Norman Harding from the London Borough of Hackney underlined how his careful trialling of biofuels led him to attest to the benefits of HVO which he is now using on all his HGV’s instead of normal road diesel.
‘Our biofuels programme began in 2008 using Fatty Acid Methyl Ester and continued for 10 years thereafter. However, after becoming aware of the existence of HVO, worked in partnership with TfL to confirm HVO’s outstanding GHG emissions benefits through extensive formal emissions testing by Millbrook Proving Ground which demonstrated up to 69% NOx reduction, 92% CO2 reduction (80% pre-combustion + 12% post-combustion) and 33% particulate reduction (note emissions results vary according to type of drive cycle test).’
Meanwhile, Lynda Waltho, from the National Express, discussed her experience of electric buses.
‘29 electric buses at National Express West Midlands went into service this year. We have installed one large battery in the garage that stores the electric and reduces the load on local grid. Buying electricity when it is cheaper means we charge vehicles overnight from the battery and grid. Between 10 and 90% can be charged within 4 hours. Buses are reaching 260km per charge.’
While emissions were heavily drawn upon during the conversation, it was noted that often non-tailpipe emissions were overlooked, when it is estimated that up to 50% of non-tailpipe emission contribute to overall road air pollution.
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