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The King Review, led by Professor Julia King, Vice-Chancellor of Aston University, and Sir Nicholas Stern, will examine the vehicle and fuel technologies which, over the next 25 years, could help to decarbonise road transport, particularly cars.

The Review will mainly focus on the transport-related technologies with potential to reduce carbon emissions substantially over the long term. However, it will also consider ways of reducing carbon emissions and meeting UK targets in the shorter term, through development and uptake of more immediately available technologies.

The Review will involve discussions with a range of interested organisations and people, including with the automotive sector, fuel suppliers and those involved in the development of next generation fuel systems, the investment and venture capital community, vehicle fleet operators (public and private) and academic experts.

Responses are due by 20th August, and the initial element of the Review will report at Pre-Budget Report in September when the Government anticipates using its recommendations to refresh and refine its strategy.

Announcing the call for evidence, Professor Julia King said:

?Road transport emissions account for approximately 20% of the UK's CO2 emissions. Reduction of these emissions, in the UK and internationally, is likely to be one of the most significant challenges in meeting our environmental ambitions and tackling climate change. We are therefore keen to obtain a wide range of inputs from relevant parties to support our review of this critical area.?

The Stern Report (published in 2006) noted:

?Transport is one of the more expensive sectors to cut emissions from because the low carbon technologies tend to be expensive and the welfare costs of reducing demand for travel are high. Transport is also expected to be one of the fastest growing sectors in the future...studies tend to find that transport will be one of the last sectors to bring emissions down below current levels.?

This announcement comes a week after the Revolve rally where alternative fuel cars were driven from Brighton to London. A number of technologies already exist (hydrogen, biofuel, electric, hybrid) but their expanded use is limited by availability and cost. It would be good to see the government bite the bullet. As Quentin Willson, the motoring journalist, said in his column in the Sunday Mirror:

?The only problem is the Government. They talk the talk, but are yet to walk the walk.?

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