New fund aimed at reducing vehicle emissions

A £5 million fund has been made available to towns and cities in the UK that could help to make improvements to vehicles. Public bodies and local authorities are able to bid for a share of the Clean Vehicle Technology Fund, which will help to make improvements to public transportation and other vehicles that could help to reduce air pollution.

Road transport is one of the biggest causes of air pollution around the world, with engines producing fumes and particulates that contribute towards climate change and impact human health. Particulate pollution that is created by vehicles has been linked to a number of issues, including respiratory illnesses, heart disease and lung cancer.

Baroness Susan Kramer, transport minister, announced the money that is being released by the fund to successful bidders. She said the money would result in a major programme that is aimed at making Britain's air cleaner. 

"We are raising the bar and making sure that the ongoing trend of improving air quality continues. This £5 million will mean less harmful exhaust fumes from buses, and other vehicles, in some of our most polluted urban areas. This funding will also secure jobs and growth in the industries delivering the technology," Baroness Kramer continued.

The Clean Bus Technology Fund was made available in 2013 and led to improvements being made to more than 500 buses. The new fund will help public bodies and local authorities improve other fleet vehicles that are used mostly on public roads, helping to make fleets greener overall. 

Single local authorities can be awarded up to £500,000 from the fund, allowing them to install technology to cut down on emissions. This includes converting vehicles to make them suitable for cleaner fuels or treating exhaust fumes.

“Reducing pollutant emissions from older buses, other heavy duty vehicles, and taxis, in particular oxides of nitrogen, demonstrates the government’s commitment to improved air quality in our towns and cities, and meeting EU air quality standards," said the transport minister.