UK clean vehicle retrofit accreditation scheme launched

A Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS) is being launched in the UK today (3 August). By providing a single standard that shows an emission technology meets standards set out in the UK government’s Clean Air Zone Framework for England, the scheme will enable the existing fleet of urban vehicles to be fitted with proven emission control solutions.

The scheme will initially focus on buses, but will then extend rapidly to a wide range of vehicles. It was developed jointly by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) and the Energy Saving Trust (EST) together with industry stakeholders through funding and support from the DEFRA/DfT Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU).

In a statement sent to Post&Parcel today, LowCVP said: “The retrofit accreditation process will be technology-neutral and designed to allow all potential suppliers of eligible, credible emission reduction technology to apply for accreditation.

“Technologies already potentially identified and in common use include: SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) fitted to exhaust systems, hybrid powertrain systems and engine repowers with gas (LPG or CNG). New technologies will need to provide robust, independent relevant test data of the performance, prior to being considered for CVRAS accreditation.”

Andy Eastlake, LowCVP’s Managing Director, added: “The most effective retrofit technologies can cut polluting emissions by over 95%. But it is critical that these systems are properly calibrated and matched to the vehicle and its operation and that we have a common and robust approval system.

“By making sure that we fit a range of the most appropriate technologies to the right vehicles, retrofitting can make a very significant, immediate impact on our air quality problems, supporting the complementary strategy to adopt new vehicles as quickly as economically viable.

“As you would expect from the LowCVP, our accreditation process will also ensure that there is no adverse impact on fuel efficiency or carbon emissions and aims to maximise the simultaneous benefits for both the environment and climate.”