An interview with Professor Julia King, Vice Chancellor of Aston University & author of ‘The King Report’
February 2009
In March 2007, then Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown asked Professor Julia King, Vice-Chancellor of Ashton University, to lead a review of low carbon cars. Exactly one year later The King Review was published, making recommendations to Government on vehicle and fuel technologies which, over the next 25 years could decarbonize cars.
From her West Midlands base, the UK’s heartland of car manufacturing, King explained that she may have been appointed to lead The King Review as she did not have any preconceived ideas. Having not worked in the transport industry, King was able to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most emotive issues facing our planet - the internal combustion engine.
One assumption she had already accepted, was Sir Nicholas Stern’s view that radical action must be taken to reduce CO₂ emissions by 80% from current levels by the year 2050. Road transport currently amounts to 25% of the UK’s carbon footprint, and cars alone account for just over half of that figure. King’s investigation positively concluded that there is huge potential for reducing CO₂ from cars and importantly, action can be taken now to meet this timescale and even make a 90% reduction.
King is a scientist. She graduated from the University of Cambridge with a first class degree in natural sciences and a doctorate in fracture mechanics. In fact King has spent almost her entire 25-year career in academia at Cambridge and also Nottingham University and Imperial College London although an 8-year period with Rolls-Royce reaching the position of Director of Advanced Engineering taught her valuable lessons about business.
To some, it may appear that The King Review did not tackle the thorny issue of travel behaviour. Yet she certainly doesn’t avoid (or dismiss) the issue. King makes the point - as a matter of fact - that smarter choices could reduce road transport’s CO₂ emissions by as much as 50%, however only 10% of us are routinely willing to make those choices. Instead, King’s methodical mind was set on whether the car industry could make less polluting or zero emission cars and if we, as consumers would buy them.
Technology is available now for cars that emit 30% less CO₂ per kilometre, for example if we drove the most fuel efficient car in its class. King underlines that the challenge is for the car industry to develop and grow a new market. It’s here where Governments can have an impact.
King worries that Lord Mandelson’s recent announcement of a £2.5 billion injection into the British car industry should be on the proviso that restructuring begins. She believes the big opportunity during the current recession is to put the environment first. “Whilst individuals are thinking about what they spend, they will be more receptive to the idea of saving money through a more fuel efficient car”.
King knows only too well, that advertising develops our feelings about cars. When making the decision to buy a car, she recommends that a colour coded system of fuel efficiency, similar to that of buying white goods, will influence the consumer at the point of sale. Currently the EU has a voluntary code for the car industry which she’d like made compulsory. What’s more, King is in favour of a colour coded tax disk related to CO₂ emissions, sending a visual signal to consumers (and the children of consumers!).
King makes the point that road transport accounts for less CO₂ emissions in France and Italy since consumers there are far more willing to own smaller cars which, by their very nature use less fuel. The German Government offers 2000 euro to incentivise consumers to switch to fuel efficient cars and the French have introduced a similar scheme. In California the take up of incentives on hybrid cars which obtain access to the state car pool lanes have exceeded the Governor’s expectations.
In the medium term, a combination of electric, hybrid and biofuel cars could further reduce emissions by 50% by 2030. Although King warns the Government to approach the development of biofuels with caution, since global deforestation disadvantages far outweigh local CO₂ savings.
By 2050 electric or hydrogen vehicles will be the norm. Of course there are technical challenges to overcome such as developing high intensity batteries and new storage systems for hydrogen. And, if we are to truly to see zero emission cars then these must rely upon cleanly generated electricity. It is here that King advises the Government to position the UK as a leader in the development of low carbon technology. She challenges the scientific and research community to think big and get excited about finding solutions and has asked the Government to incentivise them.
Experience and perhaps academia, has taught King that the brilliant minds required to fulfill our need of personal mobility will be eclectic. She passionately believes that “diversity drives innovation” and has already successfully instigated a global collaboration on decarbonising cars starting with The Treasury and its Indian reciprocal together with the best from each country’s research and industry communities.
It is King’s new role, as a pivotal member of the independent Committee on Climate Change where we can have confidence that she will keep challenging Government to make progress in reducing CO₂ emissions. In the meantime, King is travelling to Brussels to bolster Birmingham City Council’s bid to become European Science City 2010.
The King Review can be downloaded via The Treasury website.
A video lecture of Julia presenting a summary of The King Review can be viewed here.
Download pdf King
