THE London Borough of Southwark is looking to join forces with other local authorities to pioneer new operational research into zero and low emission vehicles. The authority, which already runs five natural gas refuse collection vehicles, has been promised £500,000 worth of funding via the EU's THERMIE programme which is designed to encourage new environmentally-friendly energy and fuel saving measures.

The borough is one of four London authorities and six European capitals to secure £5.5m funding from the EU, which will be used to convert fleets to gas fuels and conduct feasibility studies into electric vehicles. Known as the Zeus (Zero Emission Urban Society) project, its aims are to increase the number of low emission vehicles in use and in so doing, encourage the necessary refuelling infrastructure and persuade the private sector to follow.

Southwark wants to establish a purchasing group of local authority and health service fleet managers to negotiate the best prices from suppliers. Earlier this week the council demonstrated its NGV fleet to potential partners and held talks about establishing a co-operative purchasing network.