SMMT will host a debate in February on the bus, coach and commercial vehicle sectors’ contribution to improving air quality.

Aimed at national and local government policy stakeholders, fleet operators and vehicle manufacturers, the event will showcase clean air technology embedded in the latest buses, trucks and vans, and investigate potential policy frameworks for clean air in the UK.

SMMT Improving Air Quality: The Commercial Vehicle Contribution, an invite-only event in London on February 11, 2015, will address concerns about emissions hotspots, and demonstrate how the latest vehicle technology is already playing a vital role in delivering on strict targets for UK emissions reductions.

Delegates will hear from commercial vehicle and bus manufacturers, including Ford, Iveco, Mercedes-Benz, Optare and Renault Trucks UK, who will demonstrate how new and emerging technology, including the latest Euro 6-compliant diesel vehicles, have the potential to all but eliminate diesel nitrogen oxides (NOx) tailpipe emissions.

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer will make the keynote speech at the event, while Elliot Treharne, air quality manager, Greater London Authority; Dr Jon Lamont, CEO, Transport for Greater Manchester; and Doug Parr, chief scientist, Greenpeace will lead the policy debate.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of SMMT, said: “Buses, coaches, vans and trucks are crucial to the functioning of the UK. Manufacturers have invested heavily in clean Euro 6 technology, which is already playing a vital role in reducing all emissions and making significant improvements to air quality.

“These vehicles feature the latest emission-reducing technologies, which in tests on London’s 159 bus route, demonstrated an 85-fold reduction in NOx emissions over the previous Euro 5 standard – as well as a virtual elimination of particulate emissions.

“However, as this new air quality event will show, vehicle technology is only part of the solution

“To help it reach its full potential, we now need to engage policy makers, operators and manufacturers to facilitate a cohesive and sustainable transport policy framework. UK Government and local authorities must work together with industry to support the uptake of Euro 6 vehicles.

“Effective traffic management policies and systems – such as low emission zones – need to be developed in and around the UK’s towns and cities.”