Understanding Decarbonised Transport in 2050 was co-authored by the AEC’s Dr Penny Atkins, as first of a series of studies by the Transport Energy Network in collaboration with the University of Brighton, the Advanced Propulsion Centre and the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership.

The report urges greater collaboration across industry sectors and further government action to help sectors such as shipping and heavy duty freight, on new propulsion and low carbon energy technologies, in order to help them in the challenge to decarbonise and reduce carbon footprint.

The report makes 10 recommendations, including action to ramp up the production of greener fuels, such as sustainable diesel, biomethane and hydrogen fuels, the importance of a lifecycle approach to assessing greenhouse gas emissions, and encouragement for the government to be technologically “agnostic” when it comes to supporting the different solutions to achieve net zero. In fact, Dr. Atkins has warned against the “over-reliance” of any one technology and has urged the government to develop a portfolio of propulsion options to meet 2050 targets. “The report” she added “demonstrates the importance of academia, industry and government working together to developing zero carbon technologies.”