transport

The Department for Transport is to fund the retrofit of green technologies on nearly 450 buses in the UK to reduce emissions by as much as 90%.

Spending on home energy efficiency measures rose by 4% between 2013 and the end of 2014, according to a new report on ethical spending habits.

Energy secretary Amber Rudd has been quizzed over the need for a concerted plan for heat and transport after the UK government committed to more ambitious climate goals at last week’s COP21 summit in Paris.

Ford is to invest almost £3 billion in the development of a range of new electric vehicles by 2020, with the first to be launched in the UK next year.

Kia has announced plans to develop and launch a new range of vehicles using green technologies as it seeks to become a leader in low emission vehicles by 2020.

The UK’s energy efficiency and electric vehicle markets look set to receive significant boosts through deals signed as part of the country’s trade deal with China, valued at hundreds of millions of pounds.

The Republic of Ireland government is to launch a €130 million fund for energy efficiency and domestic renewables in a bid to combat fuel poverty in the country.

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has said that a replacement for the Zero Carbon Homes initiative, effectively scrapped by the government in July, is one of two “main concerns” for the Committee alongside the development of electric vehicles.

The government will trial wireless charging for electric vehicles on roads later this year with a view to implementing the technology on the UK’s motorway and A road network.

Tesla has confirmed that its latest electric vehicle, the Model X, will be launching in September but warned that unforeseen problems with suppliers could impact planned production.