Ricardo-AEA helps Leicester to shortlist for ULEV funding

13 April 2015 Consultancy.uk

The Leicester City Council has been able to shortlist for the ‘Go Ultra Low’ ULEV (ultra-low emission vehicles) funding awarded by the UK Office for Low Emission Vehicles to cities demonstrating the most potential to adopt ULEVs. Consulting firm Ricardo-AEA assisted the city with the preparation of the application that helped it reach the final round of the scheme.

Go Ultra Low
The ‘Go Ultra Low’ competition is organised by the UK Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV)* as part of the Government’s plan to support the uptake of ULEVs. The scheme does so by rewarding the cities that demonstrate the most potential to become internationally outstanding examples for the adoption of ULEVs in the local area. In addition to the Government, seven major UK vehicle manufacturers are backing Go Ultra Low.

Several cities have applied for the fund, with a dozen being successful to progress to the final round and bidding for a share of the £500 million fund. The shortlisted cities will further develop their proposals over summer, after which the winners, 2 to 4 cities, are announced this autumn.

Ricardo-AEA helps Leicester with ULEV funding

The city of Leicester is among the finalists and bids for a share of £65 million. The Leicester City Council will use the investment to turn the city into a centre of excellence for low emission vehicles and improve air quality through the deliverance of infrastructure, including 8,000 charging points, and an ULEV skills apprenticeship scheme.

Ricardo-AEA
Global sustainability consulting firm Ricardo-AEA has helped the Leicester City Council secure a place on the shortlist by supporting the council with the application preparation. “This is a very exciting opportunity for the city of Leicester and we’re very pleased that its application has reached the final round,” explains Guy Hitchcock Ricardo-AEA’s knowledge leader on low emission strategies who assisted the Leicester bid team. “Ricardo-AEA is well placed to support schemes given our technical expertise across low carbon transport, air quality and sustainable economics.”

* The Office for Low Emission Vehicles is part of the Department for Transport, the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills and the Department of Energy & Climate Change and works to support the early market for ultra-low emission vehicles.