Green technology must show economic payback, urges CENEX boss
16 Sep 2010
Low-pollution vehicle technology part-funded by government will have to start showing an obvious payback, if funding is to continue in future, says the boss of the leading government body supporting low pollution vehicles.
“In future we need to do what we’ve already done in the past five years,” said Brendan Connor of Cenex, “and the government needs to see clear economic growth as a result.”
Speaking to delegates at LCV 2010, a showcase for low carbon vehicles at the Millbrook proving ground in Bedford, UK, Connor said progress towards low pollution cars has been “dramatic and sustained”.
“If someone had described to me five years ago where we are today, I’d have said that was very optimistic,” he said.
Cenex , a public/private partnership is the government’s delivery agency for low carbon vehicles, co-ordinating the efforts of several other bodies, like the Technology Strategy Board, supporting new automotive technologies.
Government investment in low carbon vehicle technology has totalled £500m over the past five years, according to Connor.
“This is a very, very small amount considering the progress that has been made,” he said.
Connor also believed that the industry is well placed to win further funding, if the economic benefits can be proven, despite impending government cutbacks.
“The good news is that we’ve put in the bulk of the investment at the start of various projects and are getting economic benefits,” he added. “But the challenge now is to convince the coalition government that the next five years can be just as constructive.”
Green technology must show economic payback, urges CENEX boss
16 Sep 2010
Low-pollution vehicle technology part-funded by government will have to start showing an obvious payback, if funding is to continue in future, says the boss of the leading government body supporting low pollution vehicles.
“In future we need to do what we’ve already done in the past five years,” said Brendan Connor of Cenex, “and the government needs to see clear economic growth as a result.”
Speaking to delegates at LCV 2010, a showcase for low carbon vehicles at the Millbrook proving ground in Bedford, UK, Connor said progress towards low pollution cars has been “dramatic and sustained”.
“If someone had described to me five years ago where we are today, I’d have said that was very optimistic,” he said.
Cenex , a public/private partnership is the government’s delivery agency for low carbon vehicles, co-ordinating the efforts of several other bodies, like the Technology Strategy Board, supporting new automotive technologies.
Government investment in low carbon vehicle technology has totalled £500m over the past five years, according to Connor.
“This is a very, very small amount considering the progress that has been made,” he said.
Connor also believed that the industry is well placed to win further funding, if the economic benefits can be proven, despite impending government cutbacks.
“The good news is that we’ve put in the bulk of the investment at the start of various projects and are getting economic benefits,” he added. “But the challenge now is to convince the coalition government that the next five years can be just as constructive.”