« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
1. Introduction
The Scottish Government's Economic Strategy 1 sets out the single overarching Purpose of the current Scottish Government:
"to focus the Government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth".
The following climate change targets have been established to help meet this challenge of higher sustainable growth.
- To reduce emissions over the period to 2011
- To reduce emissions by 80% by 2050 2.
The 2050 emissions reduction target is included in the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill3 introduced to the Scottish Parliament at the end of 2008. In addition, the Bill will create a framework of annual targets, and an interim target for 2020, to drive the required actions forward. The legislation will provide business, the public and society with the certainty required to make the right choices now.
This consultation will help to determine the most effective use of targets for the development and uptake of Low Carbon Vehicles ( LCVs) and alternative fuels by 2020. Because of their wide range and various functions, there is not currently a simple definition of what constitutes a LCV. It is increasingly recognised that 'tailpipe' emissions 4 do not necessarily provide an accurate comparison of performance, and 'full life-cycle' emissions are more appropriate to compare alternatively powered vehicles, such as those using biofuels, electricity and hydrogen. However car emissions are still generally compared on a 'tailpipe' basis using a standard test-cycle. This means that there is guidance available to help us with definitions.
- Cars emitting less than 100g/km are exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty but represent just 0.2% of new car sales.
- 11% of new car sales are below 120g/km 5 and provide a benchmark for good performance.
- The European Commission defines ultra-low carbon vehicles as those emitting less than 50g/km. 6
- The European Commission's long-term target is average new car 'tailpipe' CO 2 emissions of 95g/km by 2020 7.
In this consultation, we are looking at stimulating the development of low carbon options for all vehicle types. Consequently, given the differences in purpose and performance between, for example, a car and a Heavy Goods Vehicle ( HGV), one universal figure of gCO 2/vkm would not be an appropriate definition for this document. Instead, this consultation defines a 'low carbon vehicle' as being powered by alternative fuels or technologies, including: electric vehicles ( EVs), plug-in hybrids, hybrids, stop-start/micro hybrids, hydrogen vehicles or equivalent. Within this, we expect such vehicles should run from renewable sources, which have significantly less emissions per kilometre.
The consultation paper reflects the wealth of reports and new information about currently known technologies that have been published.
A consultation response form is at Annex A. The consultation period will begin on 29 June and end on Friday 2 October 2009.
« Previous | Contents | Next »