LowCVP seeks support for coach working group

More work to encourage low carbon coaches could be on the horizon.

As initially announced at CPT’s Coaching Conference earlier this month (see B&CB 1510, 14 December 2018), the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) is seeking industry support to launch a Coach Working Group. Daniel Hayes, LowCVP’s Project Manager for its Bus Working Group, said: “Our vision is to support the coach industry to achieve low carbon emissions. We also aim to decrease the impact on air quality and to increase government support for the coach industry. We are working closing with organisations like CPT, to ensure we are not doubling up on work.

“We are going to start with a kick-off workshop in early 2019, getting together the likes of CPT and the Guild of British Coach Operators and coach manufacturers to establish interest. The workshop is open to all that are interested and we will touch on current challenges such as retrofit and coaches’ contribution to emissions in towns and cities.We will invite DfT and start a discussion, highlighting the challenges and how the coach industry is well place to support better air quality by reducing congestion.”

Daniel suggested there needs to be a focus on gathering good information on the market. “The big issue is there is no good quality data of what coaches are on the roads and where they do their mileage. At the moment, the national stats include coach in bus figures.

“I would like to think one of the key benefits of a coach group is it will help influence government policy. With the next decade being one of transition, the group will give coach operators time to plan and be part of the discussion rather than being reactive to changes.”