'Pressure is on' to meet emissions targets

Date: 23/2/2011

The passenger transport industry is under pressure to achieve several different targets, one commentator has claimed.

Lawrie Alford, Strategic Business Manager for Passengerfta, made his comments following the Bus and Coach Engineering Conference last week, which was organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Institute of Road Transport Engineer, a professional sector of the Society of Operations Engineers, and Passengerfta.

"The pressure is on the passenger industry to meet deadlines, whether they are in meeting Euro 6 emissions targets or in providing 'fully accessible' vehicles. It is encouraging that this pressure has been acknowledged by government," he explained.

Euro 5 and 6 are focused on the reduction of pollutant emissions from light vehicles, with the latter requiring all motors with a diesel engine to "substantially" lower their emissions of nitrogen oxides.

While Euro 5 came into force in September 2009, Euro 6 will be introduced in September 2014, capping emissions for vehicles at 80 mg/km - 50 per cent more than its predecessor.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport Norman Baker also appeared at the event, where he revealed he was keen to encourage closer co-operation between passenger vehicle operators and manufacturers.

Posted by Nick Anderson