- 16/06/2017
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Category: Press Releases
MIKE HEDGES AM celebrates National Clear Air Day with the potential of LPG to improve Welsh Air Quality
Mike Hedges AM celebrated #NationalCleanAirDay (15/06/17) by taking a ride in one of Autogas’ new LPG powered taxis which aims to drive an improvement the Wales’ air quality levels by cleaning up the nation’s diesel taxi cabs.
The UK’s first ever National Clean Air Day [15 June] has a goal to improve the understanding of air pollution. Taxi drivers occupy a unique place in the air pollution crisis as they are exposed to significant levels of bad air as well being a primary source of harmful emissions.
Global Action Plan and Calor, the UK’s leading supplier of LPG and joint partner in Autogas Ltd, have come together the find out the views of the UK’s taxi drivers on the air pollution challenge.
Poor air quality is a serious concern for many towns and cities across Wales, with an estimated 29,000 premature UK deaths occurring each year because of the problem which has been widely attributed to vehicle emissions.
With diesel powered taxi cabs identified as one of the biggest emitters of two key harmful pollutants, NO2 and particulates, representatives from Calor briefed Assembly Members on its newly converted taxi and multipurpose van which run on cleaner autogas LPG.
Mike Hedges AM, said:
“The Welsh Government and Local Authorities should seriously consider LPG as a quick and cost effective option for taking older diesel taxis off the road. The cost of electric vehicles; over £40,000, is beyond the reach of most cab drivers and we do not yet have the necessary infrastructure for re-charging their batteries. In contrast, the cost of converting an existing diesel powered taxi to LPG costs approximately £10,000. Drivers could recoup the cost of conversion in less than two years as the price of LPG is significantly lower that gasoline or diesel”.
Rebecca Hart, Corporate Affairs Manager at Calor said:
“Improving local air quality is an urgent priority, but this must be addressed in a sensible manner giving local drivers and businesses a convenient and affordable option which then leads to a significant environmental improvement. Diesel taxis have already been singled out by Government as one of the biggest polluters in cities so today was an important step in showcasing our latest solution for taxi drivers which means they can keep their existing cabs, while meeting the most stringent emissions tests.”
Vehicles powered by Autogas LPG are much less harmful to the environment. Independent testing of the Autogas taxi solution resulted in an 80 percent reduction in NOX emissions and a 99% reduction in particulates when compared with a standard diesel powered equivalent. The converted taxi also scored favourably on CO2 showing a 7% reduction compared to the diesel Euro6 equivalent.
Autogas LPG powered taxis are widely used in other cities around the world who are concerned with air quality issues. For example, 90 per cent of taxis in Tokyo run on LPG and they are also widely found in Hong Kong, New York and Istanbul.
Taxi drivers making the switch to LPG can be reassured by the fuel’s established infrastructure. Currently more than 1,400 refuelling stations around the UK offer autogas LPG. This infrastructure can be expanded and introduced at no cost to the tax payer.
For more information about autogas LPG visit www.autogaslimited.co.uk.
Contact
Matt Revett at Grayling – [email protected] or 07852 950609
Notes
About Global Action Plan and National Clean Air Day
Global Action Plan brings people together and inspires them to take practical environmental action. It collects the impact of their actions and share their stories, so more people are inspired to change.
GAP delivers national and global programmes to young people with a focus on promoting sustainable behaviours and health.
It believes that environmental sustainability is an issue for everyone – and all parts of society should be addressing it.
The first ever National Clean Air Day On June 15, aims to create a groundswell of action bringing thousands of people together to make UK cities cleaner, healthier and greener.
National Clean Air Day will highlight what we can all do to protect ourselves and our children, and reduce local pollution levels. The day will also capture the voices of people living all over the UK, from all walks of life, sharing their concerns about pollution and their hopes for swift progress in cleaning up our air.
The campaign focuses on pollution hotspots; with action taking place in Manchester, Birmingham, Southampton, Leeds, Derby, Nottingham, London, and Scotland; while all UK cities will benefit from the free guides and toolkits available. This includes events at school gates, hospitals, and shopping centres.
About Calor and Autogas Ltd.
Autogas Limited, a joint venture between Shell and Calor, has been established since 2000. We supply the UK’s drivers with automotive LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) with the vision to:
Save motorists from fuel poverty and help us all breathe easier
Not only do we have the drive and passion for making sure motorists are offered the full range of fuels available, but we really believe that you deserve to know just how much money you could save on your fuel bills in a year. That is why we aim to give you, the public, a better insight into UK motoring and how it can be improved – not only for your pocket, but also the impact on the environment.
