Millbrook Proving Ground plays host to the LCV 2010 low carbon vehicle event this week (15 and 16 September), showing available and emerging technologies, vehicles and government support programmes.
In partnership with the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders), the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), this year's event includes opportunities to drive new low carbon vehicles and to learn about progress. There are over 40 presentations and speakers across the two days, including Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond, SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt and Michael Hurwitz, director of the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). Chris Walsh, head of technical support at event organiser Cenex, will also be launching his organisation's Fleet Carbon Reduction guidance and analysis tool, said to enable fleet operators to assess their existing fleet and model low carbon fuels and technologies. The objective is to identify opportunities in reducing emissions for your particular fleet. As for the vans and trucks, Iveco, for example, has assembled a wide range – from a 21-tonne Stralis Active Day (AD260S30Y/FS-D CNG) 6x2 rigid distribution vehicle running on compressed biomethane, to one of 25 natural gas-powered EcoDaily 40C14G chassis cabs operated by Tesco.com, a 19-tonne Stralis Active Day rigid (AD190S27/P CNG/LNG) and the new 3.5 tonne EcoDaily Electric van. The 19-tonne Stralis Active Day –modified by Schouten, an Iveco dealer in the Netherlands – is making its debut in the UK. It features four compressed natural gas tanks and a cryogenic liquid natural gas tank, which stores LNG at -160 deg C and has much greater energy content by volume than CNG. Martin Flach, product director for Iveco UK, says: "Iveco has invested heavily in alternative fuel technology since the mid-1990s. As a direct result, we offer the largest selection of low-carbon commercial vehicles, with the EcoDaily Electric joining natural gas variants of our EcoDaily, Eurocargo and Stralis, together with an hybrid Eurocargo." "Despite the economic downturn we are pleased by the response of the UK industry in continuing to support LCV 2010," comments Cenex chief executive Robert Evans. "This year's event is set to be bigger than 2009 and our seminar programme has certainly attracted some of the industry's leading names from both home and abroad."

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