Cenex co-hosts the UK’s largest low carbon vehicle event

Milbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire, Tuesday, 28th October 2008

Milbrook, 28th October, 2008 – Cenex, the UK’s first national centre of excellence for low carbon and fuel cell technologies, in partnership with the Technology Strategy Board is today hosting a National Low Carbon Vehicle Event at Milbrook Proving Ground.

Representing the largest gathering of the UK’s low carbon automotive supply chain to date, today’s event will be attended by over 750 delegates including a range of international experts.

The event comprises three elements – a seminar, a technology exhibition and a vehicle ride and drive.  As part of the seminar the Technology Strategy Board will furnish further details of the recently-announced £100 million Low Carbon Vehicle Integrated Delivery Programme.  Cenex and the Department for Transport will provide an update on the £20 million Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme.

Commenting on the likely impact of today’s National Low Carbon Vehicle event, Cenex CEO Robert Evans said: “We recognise that large-scale exhibitions and knowledge-sharing events like the one we are hosting today foster collaboration between key stakeholders in the field of low carbon vehicles.  This event, together with other activities, demonstrates that Cenex is at the forefront of efforts to move towards the goal of the near decarbonisation of road transport.’’

Vehicle exhibitors at the event include: Ashwoods, Axon Automotive, Citroen, Connaught, Ford, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Modec, Morgan, Nissan, Peugeot, Potenza, Ricardo, Smith Electric Vehicles, Stevens Vehicles, Tesla, Think, Torotrak, Vauxhall and Westfield.

Cenex and Arup have recently completed a study of the scope of the UK transport sector to switch to electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles.  The report, sponsored by the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and Department for Transport (DfT), was released on the 27th October and is available on the BERR website at http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file48653.pdf