Other measures recommended in the “A Low Carbon Alternative Fuel For Today” document include replacing individual fuel strategies with an integrated fuels strategy for all fuels; introducing incentive schemes to remove the most polluting cars from the road (potentially through conversion to LPG autogas); reviewing wider incentives for road fuels through working with local authorities and the Mayor of London; ensuring greater consultation with government departments; and giving air pollution the same level of priority as tackling climate change.
The launch of the Blueprint comes after reports that London’s Oxford Street already breached environmental legal limits set by the EU for the whole of 2015, in the space of just four days at the start of the year. In 2014, the UK faced a fine of £300m from the EU for failing to meet air pollution targets.
‘A proper integrated fuels strategy, which includes LPG, is essential to help the UK tackle its growing air quality and carbon emissions problems,’ said Linda Gomersall, general manager, Autogas Limited. ‘This new document is a result of extensive consultation and sets out some very clear, yet incredibly simple ways in which Government could help the industry address these critical environmental and health issues.’
Autogas added that vehicles powered by LPG autogas are much less harmful to the environment, emitting significantly fewer harmful pollutants such as CO2, NOx and particulate matter than petrol or diesel models. LPG autogas also attracts a lower fuel duty than petrol or diesel meaning that it currently retails for around 61.6 pence per litre compared with 107.6 per litre for unleaded petrol. Consequently, another attraction of autogas is that users can typically reduce their fuel bills by up to 40%.
