Act NOW to introduce LPG and CNG vehicles into LONDON

Stop wasting time future gazing with Electric and Hydrogen vehicles. We need to take action NOW.

Taken from today's FT the following article simply highlights to need to act which we have been stressing for a number of years now;

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"Holidaymakers took to the roads on Good Friday for the Easter weekend getaway in greater numbers than usual, as environmental campaigners warned that the London mayor’s measures to tackle pollution in the capital were failing.

Trafficmaster said the roads on Friday morning were busier than usual for the annual Easter getaway, taking advantage of what weather forecasters were predicting would be a weekend of bright sunshine and temperatures in the mid-20s. Traffic delays on Friday morning were reported on coastal routes in east Anglia, southern England and western England."

"The combination of the Easter holiday period and the fine weather prompted a government warning on Thursday about “summer smog”. The department for environment, food and rural affairs said elevated levels of PM10, or particulates, and ozone were expected to reach high or moderates readings across England and Wales until at least Sunday."

"While such alerts are not uncommon, Defra acknowledged that it was its earliest alert for eight years. It advised the public to take sensible precautions, advising against short car journeys and taking outdoor exercise in the afternoon to reduce exposure to ozone."

"Defra said the UK was meeting air quality targets in most of the country, but that those for nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particulates in some parts of the country were “more challenging”. The department of health said cases of hospital admissions caused by pollution would be publicised in quarterly updates."

"According to Clean Air for London, the legal standard for PM10 in the capital has been breached two months earlier than last year. Simon Birkett of the campaign group said London mayor Boris Johnson had ignored advice from consultants on action to tackle excessive PM10 levels at London hotspots and had failed to introduce a low emission zone for central London."

At Autogas Network we have been campaigning for a programme to convert London Transport buses from diesel to CNG as part of a rolling programme of planned engine renewal. At the same time we have been campaigning to supply LPG taxis into London to displace aging diesel taxis. 

All diesel vehicles contribute toward the P10 problem. By focusing on CO2 only we have lost sight of the real pollution risks.