A coach decarbonisation taskforce has been created by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT). It will see a report on potential solutions for the industry published in summer 2022, which CPT says “will form a crucial part of CPT’s engagement with governments across Britain on one of the most important issues for the coach sector.”
Work will commence with a review of the challenges that the coach industry faces in decarbonising its fleet, building on conclusions drawn from CPT’s coach decarbonisation conference that takes place on 1 December.
The coach decarbonisation taskforce will be chaired by Ian Luckett of the Lucketts Travel Group and National Express. It will report to CPT’s Coach Commission and be made up of operators, manufacturers and other experts. Other members that have already been appointed are:
- Buta Atwal, Ryze Hydrogen
- Mark Ballam, Alexander Dennis
- Ian Downie, Pelican Bus and Coach
- Dan Hayes, Zemo Partnership
- Martin MacPhail, MacPhails Coaches
- Chris Owens, Alpine Travel.
Others will be named in due course. CPT adds that the remit of the taskforce is to identify hurdles in relation to: Technology; charging infrastructure; costs, including economies of scale and warranties; finance, including suitable structures, products and guarantees; knowledge and experience of operation; vehicle and charging requirements in rural, island and urban areas; and insurance.
Says Mr Luckett: “I am delighted to be chairing the taskforce and I look forward to working with my fellow taskforce members, CPT and other industry stakeholders.
“Decarbonising our world is essential and it is vital that our industry understands the part that it needs to play on the journey to net zero. It must be clear not only about the challenges that it faces, and what needs to happen to overcome them, but that it has evidence to back this up. I will be asking members of the taskforce to have this in mind from day one as we begin this exciting and important work.”
Adds CPT Chief Executive Graham Vidler: “CPT is launching this taskforce to help our members to get ahead of what will be a transformational issue for the industry over the coming decades.
“The taskforce will start a forensic examination of the issues ahead. This is a crucial first step in helping us to develop sustainable and deliverable solutions which will help the industry on its journey to net zero.”
