Russia, St Petersburg
Natural gas vehicles have made it to the list of action items for G8
countries, following the G8 summit in St Petersburg. Energy security
and diversification featured high on the agenda of the summit,
culminating in a 55 point action plan, including some specifically
addressing transport fuels:
21. Since 2/3 of world oil is consumed by the transportation sector
and its fuel consumption is outpacing general energy consumption we
will pay special attention to this sector of energy demand. For making
transportation more energy efficient and environmentally advanced we
shall:
- share best practices to promote energy efficiency in the transportation sector;
- develop programs in our respective countries, consistent with
national circumstances, to provide incentives for consumers to adopt
efficient vehicles, including clean diesels and hybrids; and introduce
on a large scale efficient public hybrid and/or clean diesel
transportation systems, where appropriate;
- promote diversification of vehicle energy systems based on new
technologies, including significant sourcing from biofuels for motor
vehicles, as well as greater use of compressed and liquefied natural
gas, liquefied petroleum gas and synthetic liquid fuels;
- promote wider use of modern technologies, materials and devices on
traditional vehicles, leading to lighter, more aerodynamic and more
efficient engines and other transport components such as transmission
and steering systems, tires, etc.;
- increase research to develop vehicles using gasoline/hydrogen fuel and hydrogen fuel cells to promote the "hydrogen economy";
- facilitate the development of trans-modal and trans-border transportation, where appropriate;
- study further the Blue Corridor [natural gas Vehicle] project by the UN Economic Commission for Europe;
- continue to consider the impact of the air transport sector on energy
consumption and greenhouse gas emissions noting international
cooperation on these issues.
Print 
PDF 