Ricardo Technical Director to Chair Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership

AUTO CENTRAL – April 1, 2009: The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership was established in January 2003 with funding from the UK Government's Department for Transport and Department of Trade and Industry, with a brief to accelerate the industry shift to low carbon vehicles and fuels. The Partnership's membership comprises representatives of government, the motor and fuels industries, vehicle users, environmental groups and consumers. The LowCVP is coordinated by a secretariat based in central London; it is a not-for-profit company owned by its members, and is in the process of applying for charitable status. As chair, Neville Jackson succeeds Graham Smith OBE, Senior Vice President, Toyota Motor Europe, who has held the post since the inception of the Partnership.

In his role at Ricardo - a leading provider of technology, product innovation, and engineering solutions to the motor industry - Neville Jackson is responsible for developing the company's future vision for vehicle technology and for the strategic planning and execution of research and development. He has been responsible for introducing new technologies to a wide range of future prototype vehicles demonstrating cost effective improvements in fuel economy and emissions.

Neville Jackson is also director of CENEX, the UK Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon Vehicles, a visiting Professor at the University of Brighton and a member of the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council Industry User Panel. He is a member of the European Council for Automotive Research Programme Review Board and also held the position of Vice Chairman of the European Automotive Research Partners Association, based in Brussels.

Commenting on the appointment, LowCVP director Greg Archer said: "We are delighted to welcome Neville Jackson to the chair of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership. Low carbon technologies can help to address the twin challenges of climate change and declining oil reserves, and provide new markets for the UK automotive sector. Neville brings with him a wealth of experience gained at the cutting edge of this sector and will help the Partnership accelerate progress to low carbon vehicles."

Neville Jackson added: "The need to reduce carbon emissions from the road transport sector has risen dramatically towards the top of the political agenda since the Partnership became active in 2003. I believe that a low carbon transport system will require all the stakeholders involved to work together in partnership to deliver a sustainable solution. I am excited to have the opportunity to play a central role in the development of the low carbon vehicles and fuels agenda at this time. Responding to the threat of climate change is, perhaps, the most challenging issue of our age."