The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and Transport for London (TfL) have run an event to explore the impact of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) on van users in the capital as they highlight the need for fleet operators to start thinking ahead.
Held on Friday 16 November, the event featured more than 50 representatives from government, business, fleet management and used vehicle suppliers, who shared insights on building awareness of the ULEZ ahead of its introduction in April 2019.
The ULEZ will operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week within the current congestion charge are and will impact operators running vehicles that don’t meet the Euro 4 standard for petrol cars, vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles and Euro 6 for diesel versions of these vehicles.
At the event, James Davis, customer strategy and insight director (commercial vehicles) at Manheim parent firm Cox Automotive UK outlined how roughly 80% of vans currently on the road would not be compliant in an Ultra-Low Emission Zone.
He added: “It’s important for an operator to think about futureproofing themselves by buying or changing their ownership model to get themselves into a euro 6 van.”
James Ingram, principal city planner, TfL, added that one of the key challenges for the organisation is building awareness amongst Londoners before the introduction of the ULEZ in April 2019.
He said: “We recognise some of challenges that small businesses face in order to upgrade their fleet in time. That is why we have joined forces with the BVRLA to give smaller businesses as much support as we can to be ready, not just for the introduction of ULEZ, but for the long-term future as London moves towards becoming a zero-carbon city by 2050.”
Meanwhile, Toby Poston, director of communications and external relations at the BVRLA, outlined that the association’s members stand ready to provide affected businesses with affordable, compliant alternatives both through the provision of suitable hire, lease and car club van options as well as via their significant contribution to the second-hand market.
He explained that BVRLA members offer some of the greenest vehicles on the road, with over half of rental vans already being compliant (56%) and nearly all car club vans meeting the standards (96%).
“The BVRLA will continue to work proactively with TfL to hone its communication plans and promote all of these possible solutions ahead of the roll out of the ULEZ next April,” he added.
