PRESS RELEASE: 15 JULY 2010
INNOVATORS IN GREEN TRANSPORT CELEBRATED
http://www.lowcvp.org.uk/news/1440/lowcvp-announces-low-carbon-champions...
THE most innovative solutions to greener transport across a range of sectors were honoured at a new awards ceremony.
The inaugural LowCVP Low Carbon Champions Awards recognise best practice in vehicle manufacturers, fleet operators and developers of products and services that reduce greenhouse gases. The winners were announced at the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) Annual Conference during an Awards Dinner held at Twickenham Stadium.
Greg Archer, Managing Director of the LowCVP, said: “These Awards define excellence and innovation, identifying the leaders in accelerating the shift to low carbon vehicles and fuels.
“The quality of the entries was exceptional and demonstrates the vibrancy of UK businesses and organisations in striving to create new markets for lower carbon vehicles.”
The winners include Oxford YASA Motors, a spin-out from Oxford University that has developed a high-efficiency, lightweight electric motor for use in electric and hybrid vehicles. The company was only founded in September 2009 but has already achieved sales of more than £200,000.
Dr Tim Woolmer, Chief Technical Officer at Oxford YASA Motors, said: “We are delighted to win this award which will help raise our profile in this exciting market.
“Innovation is the foundation of the company and we believe that our technology will form a key part of exciting new high performance vehicles with low carbon emissions.”
Winner of the Special Award, Ali Clabburn founder car-sharing website liftshare said: “It is such a privilege to do something you love, and something which really makes a difference to society. We put real passion into helping people travel more sustainably, so to be recognised as Low Carbon Champions is the icing on the cake - especially
when there are so many organisations doing other great things to help reduce our impact on the environment.”
Ali founded the car-sharing website when he was still a student in 1998. Today, liftshare is the UK’s largest national network of 1,300 car-sharing schemes. More than 375,000 individuals have signed up, sharing about 250,000,000 miles and saving over 80,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.
Following a rigorous judging process, a total of 22 companies and organisations made the shortlist. Now in its seventh year, the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) Annual Conference is the UK’s leading conference on low carbon transport policy and practice.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Winners for the LowCVP Low Carbon Champions Awards 2010:
1. Buses Award
For the company or organisation that has positively influenced the market for low carbon buses through their manufacture, operation or other activity.
Winner: TfL London Bus Services
2. Fuels Supplier or Retailer Award
The organisation that has done the most to bring forward low carbon sustainable fuel technology or the supply of sustainable low carbon fuels into the market.
Winner: Greenergy International
3. Innovation Award
To the SME, start-up, academic or other small organisation or business, that has brought forward the most promising technology for reducing vehicle carbon emissions.
Winner: Oxford YASA Motors
Oxford YASA Motors was founded in September 2009 to commercialise the lightweight, high efficiency YASA electric motor developed in partnership with Delta Motorsport. The YASA motor has demonstrated an outstanding torque-to-weight ratio, offering weight-saving benefits to electric and hybrid vehicles. The company, a spin-out from Oxford University, has already achieved sales of £200,000 of sales and has a strong order book for its direct drive motor.
Dr Tim Woolmer, Chief Technical Officer at Oxford YASA Motors, said: “We are delighted to win this award which will help raise our profile in this exciting market.
“Innovation is the foundation of the company and we believe that our technology will form a key part of exciting new high performance vehicles with low carbon emissions.”
What the judges said: “We were impressed by Oxford Yasa Motors’ early sales and the speed of market introduction. Another company demonstrating that the UK can be a leader in electric vehicles.”
For further details, contact Nick Farrant, Chief Executive:
nick.farrant@oxfordYASAmotors.com; 01235 535513.
Runner-Up: Gordon Murray Design
Commended: Intelligent Energy, Controlled Power Technologies
4. Low Carbon Road Transport Programme Award
For the organisation running or managing the most effective consumer or business-facing programme to stimulate low carbon vehicle or fuels uptake or more efficient fleet management or driving practices. This includes both publicly and privately funded programmes.
Winner: LeasePlan UK
5. Road Freight Award
For the company or organisation that has most positively influenced the manufacture of low carbon commercial vehicles or operation of a low carbon freight fleet. This may be through bringing innovative technology to market or through its enthusiastic and effective adoption. It encompasses both technology and other techniques leading to lower carbon operation.
Joint Winners: Commercial Group; Iveco
6. Special Award
For the outstanding individual, NGO, community group or academic organisation that has made the greatest contribution to the achievement of the low carbon road transport agenda.
Winner: Ali Clabburn (founder of liftshare)
7. Vehicle Manufacturer or Retailer Communications Award
For the manufacturer or retailer that has done the most in the last year to communicate to consumers the benefits of low carbon choices through advertising, marketing, labelling, sales or other activity that promotes the purchase of low carbon vehicles.
Winner: BMW Group
Full details for the LowCVP Awards:
http://www.lowcvp.org.uk/news/1408/lowcvp-low-carbon-champions-awards-20...
Full details on the LowCVP Annual Conference 2010:
http://www.lowcvp.org.uk/events/889/the-lowcvp-annual-conference-14-15-j...
The LowCVP (www.lowcvp.org.uk) was established in 2003 to take a lead in accelerating the shift to low carbon vehicles and fuels in the UK and to help ensure that UK business can benefit from that shift. It is a newly incorporated partnership of approaching 200 organisations from the automotive and fuel industries, the environmental sector, government, academia, road user groups and other organisations with a stake in the low carbon vehicles and fuels agenda.
For further information, please contact:
Neil Wallis, Head of Communications, LowCVP
Phone: 020 3178 7863 Mobile: 07974 255720 email: neil.wallis@lowcvp.org.uk
