Free Smart Transport webinar: Decarbonisation of transport challenges & opportunities

Smart Transport is to host a free webinar providing expert insight on how transport authorities, academia and the private sector are working to tackle decarbonisation and the climate emergency.

The session, which will be sponsored by ABB and Centrica, takes place on May 14 at 11am and is hosted by Jason Torrance, UK100 policy director.

The webinar replaces the seminar session at the Smart Transport Conference on March 17, which was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

(Watch a recording of the webinar)

Experts will offer their thoughts in three 15-minute sessions before taking part in a Q&A panel.

Greg Marden, University of Leeds professor of transport governance, will set the scene in the first session of the day to provide an overview of the current state of play with decarbonisation.

Marden has researched issues surrounding the design and implementation of new policies for over 15 years covering a range of issues.

Current work examines how the smart mobility transition will change how people think about what, how and who governs the mobility system.

He is an expert in climate and energy policy in the transport sector and is currently chair of the Commission on Travel Demand, looking at how to deal with alternative demand futures. 

Marden has served as an advisor to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee and regularly advises local, national and international governments.

The next session will be led by Elliot Treharne, head of air quality and Rosalind O’Driscoll, senior policy and programme officer - air quality for the Greater London Authority, on what strategies are being used across the capital to improve air quality. 

Treharne is a specialist in urban and environmental policy and co-wrote the Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy, developing the local measures concept to reduce poor air quality at the worst hotspots in London. He also played a pivotal role in developing and delivering London’s new Ultra Low Emission Zone.

In 2015 he also undertook a six-month secondment working as Clean Air Advisor in the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

The next session will look at how bus fleets can electrify and the challenges they face to make the switch.

This session will be led by Frank Müehlon, head of ABB's global e-mobility infrastructure solutions.

The global business provides a range of cloud connected charging and infrastructure solutions from AC charging, DC fast charging and Ultra-fast charging to eBus / heavy vehicle charging with high power.

Prior to his e-mobility role, Mühlon was global head of the low voltage modular devices unit and managing director of ABB Stotz-Kontakt GmbH in Heidelberg.

Chris Jackson, Centrica head of fleet and electrification, will then look at how the UK will cope as demand for plug-in vehicles continues to increase and how businesses and policymakers can prepare for the mass electrification of transport.

Jackson has spent the last 13 years working in the fleet industry including the leasing divisions of two High Street banks.

Electric vehicles have been a big part of his career for the last five years and he believes that clean air and the wider environmental concerns coupled with increasing legislative pressure is highlighting the need for businesses large and small to decarbonise their fleet.

The final session before the Q&A will feature a presentation by Dr. Daniel Ruiz, Zenzic chief executive, all about how the development of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) will enable positive changes for the environment, road safety, productivity and access to transport.

Ruiz joined Zenzic as CEO in November 2017 to lead the UK’s £200 million connected and self-driving development programme.

Prior to leading Zenzic, he managed a 500-strong team as MD of Dynniq UK, tackling traffic challenges with technology-based solutions.

He also oversaw the London Streets Traffic Control Centre and maintenance of Greater London's 6000 sets of traffic lights, and set up the Transport Coordination Centre for the London 2012 Olympics.

• Register for your free webinar place for Climate emergency: Decarbonisation of transport challenges & opportunities
• For more Smart Transport content you can also register your interest for the Smart Transport Conference on the 15th September 2020. If you or your business want to support a Smart Transport webinar on a topic critical to our audience of senior public and private sector stakeholders, email [email protected] to find out what opportunities we can offer you.