By David Savage, vice president UK & Ireland at Geotab
Unless there is a dramatic U-turn in local policy in the next few months, the new Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) zones are here to stay. With an election on the horizon, transport policy has suddenly taken centre stage in a very contentious political debate.
ULEZ will continue to cause controversy as one of the most divisive road policies for decades. The latest update to the London ULEZ zone, set to come into force on 29 August, has caused protests across almost every borough in the capital.
And yet London has some of the worst pollution in the UK. The London Air Guide, published by Imperial College, says the capital is particularly bad due to its sheer size. The combination of high-rise buildings, dense traffic and congested streets add to the problems. But it is not just an issue restricted to inner London; most of the outlying boroughs have severe problems too.
And the rest of the UK’s major cities all suffer similar congestion problems; Dundee, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh all have their own ULEZ and CAZ (Clean Air Zone) plans. In addition, Bath, Bristol, Birmingham, Bradford, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside have introduced their own Clean Air Zones. The list is set to continue to grow in the coming years.
What is in no doubt is the role that transportation plays in pollution. It is the second-most polluting sector in the world and contributes to a quarter of all CO2 emissions on the planet. Roads are responsible for three-quarters of that pollution alone. In the pursuit of a cleaner and healthier environment, the introduction of ULEZ has emerged as a significant policy initiative across the length and breadth of the UK.
These initiatives aim to transform the way we move and curb harmful emissions by imposing stricter regulations on vehicle usage. Irrespective of personal opinions, it is crucial for businesses to acknowledge that ULEZ is a present-day business reality.
For businesses operating within ULEZ areas, understanding and ensuring compliance with the regulations is paramount. Organisations that do not have a roadmap to a zero-carbon fleet are at risk. The zones themselves are subject to daily tariffs and failure to pay can result in substantial fines. Consequently, taking proactive measures to become ULEZ-compliant is not only responsible but also advantageous to fleet managers and business owners alike.
Compliance and regulation
Compliance involves evaluating an existing fleet and assessing whether any vehicles are exempt from the ULEZ charge. The Transport for London website has an easy registration plate checker. If your vehicle does not meet emission standards, you have two ways to avoid paying the charge whilst in the ULEZ zone. You can either replace your vehicle or pay to adapt a vehicle to reduce vehicle emissions. The scrappage scheme is especially useful for small businesses and aims to provide incentives to trade in older vehicles.
The adoption of electric vehicles stands out as a promising alternative. It aligns with the 2030 target to ban the sale of ICE vehicles and the overarching 2050 net zero objectives set out by the UK government across all sectors of the economy. However, transitioning an entire fleet to EVs currently presents challenges. Operating EVs is not as simple as running a fleet of conventional or internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Range is an important factor as there is an element of pre-planning to ensure vehicles stay productive on the road. This is where telematics plays a vital role.
Telematics provides critical vehicle data in near real-time. This includes factors such as fuel consumption (in ICE vehicles), battery consumption (in EVs), driving behaviour and maintenance requirements.
But fleet managers often ask the question as to which electric vehicles can do the same job as their conventionally powered fleets. Geotab’s Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment (EVSA) indicates that one in six conventional fuel-powered commercial vehicles are ready for EV transition today, based on a range and usage analysis. The EVSA also provides a useful tool to select the most suitable candidate vehicles to replace first, and when to do so.
Sustainable driving
More and more companies are focusing on sustainable business practices. Reporting of carbon emissions is essential for ESG reporting requirements.
Although transitioning to electric vehicles is not the only way to reduce a fleet’s carbon emissions, there are several best practices, powered by data-driven insights delivered through the EVSA tool, that can be utilised to make fleets more sustainable.
Route optimisation and idling time reduction provide some of the biggest opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and costs from fleet operations. For example, Geotab’s Green Fleet Dashboard is able to give fleet managers full visibility on their fuel use and efficiency. It provides feedback on driver behaviours and route planning. Harsh acceleration and braking are a sure-fire indication of inefficient driving practices for instance, and a way of identifying areas for driver improvement.
Whether you love it or hate it, the introduction of ULEZ is a catalyst to upgrading or improving your fleet. Ignoring it is not an option. While it will no doubt pose challenges for businesses in the short term while adapting, it also presents massive opportunities for growth and innovation.
In the era of ULEZ, businesses must recognise that the time for action is now. By embracing compliance and leveraging the power of intelligent data through telematics, organisations can navigate the ULEZ landscape successfully. So, whether you love it or loathe it, it is an opportunity for change, while contributing to a cleaner and sustainable future for all.