The UK government plans to ban the sale of new petrol, diesel or hybrid cars by 2035 at the latest, if the country is to achieve its target of zero emissions by 2050.

And 2020 looks set to be a big year for electric and plug in vehicles, with many opportunities for low (and zero) emission vehicles, as well as for renewable fuels.

Dan Hayes from the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership is speaking at Energy and Rural Business Show this March 3 and 4 and says that 2020 will be an important year for policy developments for low emission vehicles. “The electric vehicle revolution is undoubtedly under way and this will affect farming in many ways.

“With Company Car Tax changes imminent, as well as the new government announcement to end sales of combustion engine cars from 2035, add to this the huge impact of the European Cars and CO2 regulation, under which car manufacturers will face steep fines for failing to hit emissions targets, and you have a real change coming down the road.

“The farming and rural business sector will feel the repercussions from these and other related changes in the pipeline,” explains Dan.

Farms could become key players in the generation, storage and supply of renewable transport electricity and fuel in rural areas, as well as supplying decentralised power networks, according to David Jacobmeyer, director of Energy and Rural Business Show. “Biomethane has the potential to become a key transport fuel with significant environmental and cost savings compared to diesel for HGVs, buses and other vehicles.

“In terms of low emission farm machinery, manufacturers are beginning to introduce electric, biogas, hydrogen fuel or hybrid tractors and farm vehicles with the development of affordable solutions that will work within the parameters of the realities of agriculture,” says David.

Energy and Rural Business Show, taking place on 3 and 4 March 2020 at the East of England Arena, Peterborough, will showcase opportunities for farmers in its ‘Low Emission Vehicles Expo’, which hosts an exhibition, featuring electric quad bikes manufacturer, Eco Charger, All-Terrain Vehicles manufacturer, Polaris, industrial vehicle manufacturer IVECO and Marshall Motor Group, who will be showcasing low carbon Volvos at the show.

The event also features a new vehicle test track and a Low Emission Vehicles Theatre within the show’s multi-streamed conference.

The Low Emission Vehicles Theatre will include dedicated sessions on a rapidly growing sector, with subjects to include:    

o   Autonomous farm machinery and precision farming

o   The development of the infrastructure required, including electrical charging points and gas refuelling stations

o   The integration of low-carbon transport technologies and fuels on-farms and rural businesses

o   The opportunities the growth of this sector will provide innovative farmers/landowners

o   A focus on the market for biofuels

To book your free ticket, visit: http://www.energyandruralbusiness.co.uk/visit/register-to-visit.