\u00a0 \u00a0 Though I\u2019ve become less focused on birthdays (especially as I\u2019ve got older!) I do remember my 20th (some time in the eighties!). These occasions do provide a prompt to reflect on what\u2019s gone before. It\u2019s hard to believe (for me, at least) but Zemo<\/a> has reached the grand old age of 20 this year. Zemo\u2019s teenage years were in a vibrant, dynamic and ever changing transport sector and as the partnership reaches maturity, it\u2019s a moment to take stock of the dramatic changes we\u2019ve helped to stimulate through collaboration.<\/p>\n In its two decades, Zemo (formerly as LowCVP) has seen five general elections, six prime ministers, 12 secretaries of state for transport (five Labour and seven Conservative) and even more ministers of state (of all flavours) with lead responsibility for transport decarbonisation. <\/p>\n We\u2019ve seen many changes of political leadership and significant challenges, including phases of austerity, political uncertainty and almost unprecedented turbulence. However, despite attacks from some quarters, governments since 2003 have undoubtedly, bought into the cross-party consensus on the need to tackle the causes of climate change and bring forward policy prescriptions to decarbonise road transport, one of the more difficult sectors of the economy to tackle.<\/p>\n The 2008 Climate Change Act was a pivotal moment. The Act committed the UK Government by law to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80% of 1990 levels by 2050<\/p>\n The 2008 Climate Change Act was a pivotal moment. The Act committed the UK Government by law to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80% of 1990 levels by 2050. The Act established the Climate Change Committee \u2013 a body that Zemo has worked closely with over the years \u2013 to monitor and report on progress towards the legal targets.<\/p>\n In 2019, the Climate Change Act was strengthened when the UK became the first major economy to commit to a \u2018net zero\u2019 target by 2050. (At the end of last year, around 140 countries had announced or were considering net zero targets, covering close to 90% of global emissions.)<\/p>\n Key moments in domestic transport-related climate policy have come hard and fast in recent years. In 2020, the government took the historic step of announcing the end of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030 and all ICE hybrid versions by 2035. In 2021, the government followed up with the announcement that no new emitting heavy goods vehicles would be sold after 2040 (and smaller trucks by 2035). In 2022, consultations (for which the government is still to issue full responses) there were proposals to end the sale of non-zero emission buses and coaches, and powered light vehicles too. <\/p>\n The overall plan is that sales of all new emitting road vehicles will end at least a decade before the 2050 deadline set by the Climate Change Act and stock turnover should mean that there are very few ICE vehicles left to produce emissions from the tailpipe on the UK\u2019s roads by 2050 (and we\u2019ll make sure that any that remain are powered by low or zero carbon fuels, of course).<\/p>\n The 2021 Transport Decarbonisation Plan set out the government\u2019s decarbonisation ambitions and commitments for all transport sectors. It included several policy prescriptions that Zemo and partner organisations had proposed or for which collaborative activities convened by the Partnership had laid the foundations.<\/p>\n Reflecting on Zemo\u2019s role in the UK\u2019s progress along the \u2018road to zero\u2019 over the last 20 years, there are several highlights which relate directly to the passenger transport sector. <\/p>\n Early in the chronological list of Zemo\u2019s \u2018Top 20\u2019 achievements was the Partnership\u2019s role in establishing key, independent structures which are now working effectively to ease the way to net zero transport<\/p>\n Early in the chronological list of Zemo\u2019s \u2018Top 20\u2019 achievements (see below) was the Partnership\u2019s role in establishing key, independent structures which are now working effectively to ease the way to net zero transport. Examples of this are the UK\u2019s Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies (CENEX) which is a not-for-profit organisation, focusing very effectively on breaking down barriers to transport decarbonisation. Zemo (as LowCVP) also provided input into the Low Carbon Innovation Strategy which paved the way for future Innovation UK funding. Later work led to the creation of the Advanced Propulsion Centre in 2013 which now leads initiatives to accelerate the industrialisation of green technologies for vehicles.<\/p>\n In the early days, the partnership played a key role in ensuring that biofuels brought to market are renewable and environmentally beneficial, with ground-breaking work on sustainability standards, underpinning regulations for the UK\u2019s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) which has ratcheted up the amount of renewable fuel added to all retail petrol and diesel. (Then) LowCVP input was central to the seminal Gallagher Review which covered the indirect effects of biofuels and which was a key influence on later policy. <\/p>\n More recently, Zemo has followed up earlier work on renewable fuels, introducing the Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme which provides independent advice on fuels\u2019 greenhouse gas emission savings and raw material provenance, helping to improve operator confidence and trust in the sustainability performance of fuels like HVO and biomethane. <\/p>\n A big impact on buses<\/strong><\/p>\n It has been Zemo\u2019s work in the bus sector that has had the most direct impact on mass passenger transport. (The partnership\u2019s Bus Working Group actually met for the first time in December 2002, before the official launch of LowCVP in 2003 \u2013 such was the energy and appetite for collaboration in the sector!)<\/p>\n From around 2009, the partnership has laid the foundations for the UK\u2019s success in decarbonising buses, playing a central role in the \u2018bus innovation life-cycle\u2019. The partnership, with its members, has been central in establishing the parameters for all the key UK Government grant schemes to incentivise low and zero emission bus uptake and has underpinned these with industry-supported certification and accreditation processes. Our terminology has evolved in parallel with technology advances; from the original Green Bus Funds to low carbon (LCEB), ultra-low emission (ULEB) and now zero emission bus (ZEB and ZEBRA) schemes, we have constantly raised the bar \u2013 and the market has responded.<\/p>\n The partnership has also worked to ensure that the government spends taxpayers money wisely and that its policies don\u2019t undermine each other. Zemo, for example, supported the update to the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) to align with the government\u2019s overall environment policies. The partnership also worked with government to develop an accreditation scheme for repowering buses to zero emissions (ZEVRAS) to enable operators to claim the significant BSOG ZEB uplift.<\/p>\n With support through the partnership\u2019s very active Bus Working Group, we have carried the word to bus operators with ongoing series of regional, low and zero emission bus workshops and published several (regularly updated) \u2018low and zero emission bus guides to help spread best practice and learning across the industry.<\/p>\n The UK\u2019s policy on bus decarbonisation is widely recognised as having been a real success. The UK is now outperforming Europe on zero emission bus uptake<\/p>\n The UK\u2019s policy on bus decarbonisation is widely recognised as having been a real success. The UK is now outperforming Europe on zero emission bus uptake. According to Zemo analysis, an average of 513 new zero emission buses (ZEBs) have started operations in the UK over the last three years and there were a total of 639 in 2022. For the last two completed years, ZEB registrations accounted for close to 50% of all buses registered in the UK and the prospects look good for a significant majority of bus uptake in 2023 to be zero (tailpipe) emission, with battery electric vehicles continuing to be the leading technology used. There are around 2,000 ZEBs in service in the UK today, representing around 5% of the UK\u2019s total fleet. By 2025\/26, Zemo expects this figure to be 10%.<\/p>\n A recent survey by the Dutch consultancy Chatrou CME Solutions has the UK at the top of a 31-nation league table for uptake of battery electric buses.<\/p>\n Zemo is now beginning to focus on decarbonising the coach and minibus sectors, seeking to emulate the formula that has proved successful so far for buses.<\/p>\n Also amongst Zemo\u2019s \u2018Top 20\u2019 is the partnership\u2019s work on retrofit accreditation which has enabled operators of existing vehicles to comply with Clean Air Zone standards. The Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS) addresses the air pollution emissions from buses and coaches as well as heavy goods vehicles, mini-buses, taxis and vans. <\/p>\n So, as we reflect on 20 years of hard, challenging work to decarbonise the UK\u2019s road transport, there\u2019s a great deal to be proud of \u2013 in particular for members of our bus community.<\/p>\n I do hope some readers will be able to be with us at City Hall on June 15 at our \u2018Zemo20:Zero\u2019 anniversary conference<\/a>. There\u2019s certainly been much progress, especially in the drive to decarbonise buses, but a great deal remains to be done together, so do \u2018stay on the bus\u2019 with us for the rest of the journey to zero emissions mobility. <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Highlights of Zemo\u2019s work in accelerating road transport\u2019s transition to net zero\u2026<\/p>\n 1. Helping buyers make the \u2018greener\u2019 choice (2005)<\/strong> 2. Laying foundations for future success (2005-onwards)<\/strong> 3. Ensuring that biofuels are \u2018green\u2019 (2008)<\/strong> 4. Deepening government-stakeholder collaboration (2009-10)<\/strong> 5. Leading on clean buses (2009-onwards)<\/strong> 6. Focusing on the full life-cycle (2010-onwards)<\/strong> 7. Driving the market for electric vans (2011)<\/strong> 8. Leading on truck decarbonisation (2011-12)<\/strong> 9. Cutting \u2018greenwash\u2019 (2012-13)<\/strong> 10. Encouraging leadership and innovation (2013-18) <\/strong> 11. Groundbreaking research (2014)<\/strong> 12. Laying foundations for renewable fuels uptake (2015)<\/strong> 13. Cutting emissions from current vehicles (2016)<\/strong> 14. Joining the climate and air quality agendas (2016-17) <\/strong> 15. Paving the way for green truck trials (2018-onwards)<\/strong> 16. Right vehicle for the right use (2018-onwards)<\/strong> 17. Increasing trust in renewable fuels (2021)<\/strong> 18. Bringing transport and energy together (2019-22)<\/strong> 19. Cutting carbon through renewable fuels (2021)<\/strong> 20. Influencing the agenda (2004-2023)<\/strong> * Zemo Partnership re-branded and changed its name in 2021 from Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP).<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 DON\u2019T MISS OUT \u2013 GET YOUR COPY! \u2013\u00a0click here to subscribe!<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The post 20 years of collaboration on the road to Zero<\/a> first appeared on Passenger Transport<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u200b\u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After two decades of hard work to decarbonise UK road transport, there\u2019s a great deal to be proud of \u00a0There are around 2,000 zero emission buses in service in the UK today, representing around 5% of the UK\u2019s total fleet \u00a0BY Andy Eastlake Though I\u2019ve become less focused on birthdays (especially as I\u2019ve got older!) I do remember my 20th…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":2804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camcab"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2803"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2803"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2803\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
There are around 2,000 zero emission buses in service in the UK today, representing around 5% of the UK\u2019s total fleet<\/em><\/p>\n
BY Andy Eastlake<\/strong><\/p>\n20 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP: ZEMO\u2019S \u2018TOP 20\u2019<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\nLowCVP* launches the colour-coded New Car Fuel Economy Label. (Version for second-hand cars introduced in 2010).<\/p>\n
\nLowCVP and partners establish UK\u2019s Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies (CENEX). Input into Low Carbon Innovation Strategy, paves way for Innovation UK funding. Later work with government and partners leads to creation of Advanced Propulsion Centre (2013), to accelerate industrialisation of green technologies for vehicles.<\/p>\n
\nLowCVP work on sustainability standards underpins the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).<\/p>\n
\nPartnership transitions to become jointly-funded by members and government.<\/p>\n
\nLowCVP\/Zemo supports establishment of UK Government grant schemes including the Green Bus Funds, LEB, ULEB and ZEBRA schemes, underpinned by industry-supported certification and accreditation processes. Supports revision of Bus Service Operators Grant to align with government environment policy. UK leads Europe on low emission bus uptake.<\/p>\n
\nLowCVP leads \u2018Beyond the Tailpipe\u2019 drive for full LCA (life-cycle assessment) of greenhouse gas emissions from transport.<\/p>\n
\nResearch managed by LowCVP leads to launch of Plugged-In Vans grant programme. <\/p>\n
\nWorking with key stakeholders, LowCVP publishes major report on barriers to the adoption of low carbon HGVs. Work leads to \u00a39.5m Low Carbon Truck Programme. <\/p>\n
\nLowCVP with SMMT and ISBA issue influential \u2018Best practice principles for environmental claims in marketing\u2019.<\/p>\n
\nLow Carbon Champions Awards celebrate achievement in road transport decarbonisation.<\/p>\n
\nLowCVP publishes \u2018Investing in the Low Carbon Journey\u2019- lessons from the first decade of UK policy on the road to 2050. Motor industry shows we can have both \u2018green\u2019 and growth.<\/p>\n
\nLowCVP-convened Transport Energy Taskforce reviews future targets for GHG emissions and renewable fuels. Recommendations adopted by government through the RTFO.<\/p>\n
\nLowCVP establishes accreditation scheme for retrofits (CVRAS).<\/p>\n
\nPartnership leads \u2018Lower Carbon, Cleaner Air\u2019 initiative bringing climate and air quality campaigns closer together.<\/p>\n
\nPartnership work on emissions testing provides basis for Government incentive programmes, leads to ZERF and Low Emission Freight Trials.<\/p>\n
\nPartnership work with industry on PLV (powered light vehicles) is recognised in the 2021 Transport Decarbonisation Plan. <\/p>\n
\nZemo\u2019s new Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme provides independent advice on fuels\u2019 GHG emission savings and raw material provenance.<\/p>\n
\nZemo convenes highly influential EVET (EV Energy Taskforce); ground-breaking collaboration to maximise benefits from the introduction of EVs for the UK\u2019s energy system.<\/p>\n
\nZemo\u2019s work over many years leads to successful introduction of E10 petrol in UK. <\/p>\n
\nZemo\/LowCVP Annual Conferences and Parliamentary events are leading fixtures in the transport decarbonisation calendar.<\/p>\n
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/strong> Andy Eastlake was appointed as Chief Executive of Zemo Partnership in 2021 having been Managing Director (of LowCVP) since 2012.<\/p>\n
This article appears in the latest issue of\u00a0Passenger Transport<\/em>. <\/strong><\/p>\n