Abstract
This paper examines the potential market for natural gas as a transportation fuel in the light commercial vehicle sector in the United Kingdom. In order to understand this market and identify barriers to growth and possible solutions interviews were conducted with a number of professionals with experience in this market. These interviews were open and exploratory enabling the application of grounded theory techniques in analysis. Clear priorities for potential users were cost and carbon reduction and the main constraint a lack of refuelling infrastructure. Small scale and low cost policy interventions were identified, at national level including maintaining tax differentials; easing payload restrictions; and limited support for refuelling facilities alongside local policy initiatives, for example, restoring the exemption from the London Congestion Charge for gas vehicles, that could help to kick-start the market at least at a niche level.
Highlights
Concern over fuel security and the emissions of petrol and diesel vehicles has led to a search for replacement fuels and vehicle technologies
This paper focuses on decision makers in the gas van market to identify interventions that might kick-start the market at relatively low cost
The interviews centred on the following questions: 1. Can you tell me about the experience you have had with natural gas vehicles? 2
Summary
Concern over fuel security and the emissions of petrol and diesel vehicles has led to a search for replacement fuels and vehicle technologies. Natural gas has become an attractive option due to its availability, diverse sources (IEA, 2010) lower emissions of local air pollutants, especially nitrogen oxides (NOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and particulate matter, and its suitability for heavy-duty vehicles (Engerer and Horn, 2010; Park and Tak, 2012). In Europe growth has been slower but natural gas vehicles exceed a 1% market share in Bulgaria, Italy and the Ukraine (NGVA, 2013). Some countries have sought to use bio-methane as a more sustainable less carbon intensive direct replacement for fossilised natural gas given that current Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles have only a slight advantage in terms of CO2 emissions with respect to their diesel and petrol counterparts. The UK the market is negligible with only 559 mostly heavy duty dual-fuel vehicles on the road in 2011 (NGVA, 2013). This paper aims to shed light on the fledgling UK market in natural gas vehicles to explore barriers to market development and identify ways of overcoming these
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