Low Carbon Day at Highland campus to showcase range of transport including hydrogen-fuelled vehicles and electric bikes in run up to COP26
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Low carbon transport from electric bikes to a hydrogen-fuelled refuse lorry will be showcased in the Highland capital in the run-up to the COP26 conference.
The event will take place at the Inverness Campus on Friday.
It is being organised by regional transport partnership HiTrans, Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, NHS Highland, Inverness College UHI, Highlands and Islands Student Association (Hisa) and other local partners.
Low Carbon Day will feature a demonstration of hydrogen vehicles, including a bus, road sweeper, refuse lorry plus a panel van and cars.
E-bikes, including E-cargo bikes, will also be on show along with electric cars, car club electric vehicles and hybrids while Hisa will be organising activities.
Hi-Bike, a new E-bike share scheme developed by HiTrans, will also be promoted at the event between noon and 4pm.
Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson said the council was committed to decarbonising its light commercial fleet by 2025, and was working across the public and private sector to support the emerging hydrogen economy in Highland.
"There is no escaping the conclusion that low carbon transport is the future if we are to have any hope of getting to net zero, and it’s fantastic to see so many of these options being showcased at this event," she said.
She added the council will be participating in transport-themed events at the UN Climate Change Conference which will open in Glasgow on Sunday and runs until November 12.
HiTrans chairman and Highland councillor Allan Henderson said HiTrans was delighted to be involved in the Stagecoach/Caetano hydrogen bus demonstrator bus project after an approach from Protium Energy.
"In funding the hydrogen supply from Element2 we are showing that the Highlands and Islands are willing and able play a key part in the development of Scotland’s hydrogen economy," he said.
"With its abundance of renewable resources, our region can punch above its weight and go beyond net zero."
Georgina Parker, assistant principal of operations and external relations at Inverness College UHI, said as a large employer and education and training provider, the organisation was very aware of its role in developing sustainable behaviours and tackling climate change.
"We’re delighted to be working with our partners, including HISA, to raise awareness of low carbon travel, particularly cycle to work/study through the promotion of safe travel routes, bike maintenance workshops and the e-bikes on campus," she said.
"We have signed up to Race to Zero, which commits Inverness College UHI to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and we’ve started work on a new strategy involving staff, students and partners to help us achieve that."
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