The majority (76%) of UK van owners say they’ll be hit by the expansion of Low Emission and Clean Air Zones (CAZs) around the country, yet almost one in five (18%) still don’t know what they plan to do.
New research from Enterprise has found 40% of drivers who own a van aren’t currently aware of the fees and fines they face for non-compliance for London’s expanded Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEX), which comes into force on 25 October. That’s despite the fact that Transport for London (TfL) estimates it will affect 35,000 vans every day.
The study of 2,000 UK drivers also found that 10% of van owners drive a vehicle that is more than 15-years-old and therefore very unlikely to be compliant with Euro 6 emissions standards.
A fifth of van owners (20%) say they plan to adjust to the introduction of Clean Air Zones by avoiding going into those locations altogether, while one in nine (11%) plan to accept that they will have to pay a charge – which may be passed on to their customers.
Ben Lawson, vice president mobility for Europe at Enterprise, said: “Clean Air Zones are important in reducing transport emissions and encouraging people away from driving older and more polluting vehicles. However, van owners need to be able to access a low-emission and Euro 6-compliant vehicle when they have no choice but to drive into a CAZ.
“Planning ahead is vital, as it will help businesses identify where they will need to drive into one of these zones and how best to address the charges. Flexible rental is one option for users who regularly drive into a low emission zone and is an efficient way to drive a low-emission van without the capital outlay of buying a new one. Car clubs and daily rental are suitable for more short-term use for owners who only make occasional trips into these zones.”
