Going Electric

DANGEROUS AIR POLLUTION LEVELS IN OUR CITIES

By Vince Dignam City of London Business Performance & Transport Group Manager

Of all the local authorities, the City of London Corporation has some of the highest levels of air pollution in the country – down to its location at the heart of London and the density of the buildings and traffic that surround it. Tackling the issue is a key priority and through an informed strategic approach, it has effectively implemented a number of targeted measures.

Central to the City of London’s approach is effective engagement with businesses and residents. The City hosts one of London’s five Low Emission Neighbourhoods (LEN) in the Barbican and Smithfield Market area. It also runs air pollution awareness events and works directly with businesses to tackle emissions from deliveries and freight. Within the last year, electric vehicle charging infrastructure has been trialled for residents. Further interventions to be trialled are restricted access of polluting vehicles on City streets, and rapid electric charge points for taxis.

Committed to protecting the health of people living and working in the City of London Corporation and with strict restrictions on polluting vehicles on the horizon with the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), it has also taken strong steps to transform its own fleet. In 2016 they implemented a Corporation-wide ‘no diesel’ policy. For every new vehicle purchased by the City Corporation they undertake a business case study to make sure they choose the best-suited vehicle for the job. Oversight extends beyond their own fleet: any new contractor the City brings on board must have a fleet that meets FORS Grade Silver Requirements and complies with the CLOCS Standard for Construction Logistics.

The City of London Corporation have a Transport Co-Ordinating Group that consists of officers from Procurement, Environmental Health, Transport, City of London Police and Cleansing/Waste department. The City have also been involved in consultation regarding the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) which will start in April 2019.

With all the above legislative changes the City Corporation’s Group transport manager has been consulting with various vehicle manufacturers and suppliers as well as Transport for London, Green Fleet and other organisations on alternative fuels for the future to meet legislative changes. The City Corporation have been operating various electric vehicles for years, mainly cars and light vehicles. One of the main problems was that there are very few alternatives, apart from Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), in the Large goods vehicle (LGV) sector.

The City Corporation started talks with various suppliers/manufacturers to see what alternatives could be sourced for 2019 especially in the LGV sector. In 2016 the City Corporation started talking to the NRG group who specialise in vehicle contract hire and workshop maintenance. Discussion on future developments and trials which included a 26 tonne fully electric refuse collection vehicle were tabled by the NRG Chairman. An exciting concept which was accepted by the City of London Corporation team immediately.

The Journey started, and The City Corporation and NRG worked closely together as the vehicle was developed (by Electra). The first showing was in November 2017 at ‘Freight in the City’ Expo at Alexandra Palace, (Chassis and cab only fully electric) generating interest and lots of questions from various business sectors who also wanted to trial the vehicle.

In May 2018 the City of London Corporation Cleansing and Waste department started the trial at Smithfield meat market collecting all the waste and street cleansing from the market area. Straight away the drivers found the transition from diesel to electric very easy and were impressed with how quiet the vehicle was, no white noise, no vibrating cab. The vehicle performed better than expected, carrying out a whole eight hour shift, 200 plus bin lifts and compactions of bins full of waste, then travelled 20 miles round trip to tip the waste. At the end of this working day the vehicle still had 65% charge left, meaning that it could have carried on for another shift before charging. The vehicle operated for two months and received lots of positive comments from the public, stating no idling issues, very quiet and no emissions. This is the future in the LGV sector especially for Urban/City Environments.

The City Corporation are tendering the cleansing and waste contract out at present (November 2017 -April 2019) for a contract start date of April 2019 when the ULEZ also starts. The City Corporation have specified electric vehicles for the future and are expecting these electric refuse collection vehicles in the fleet for the City Corporation. There are other LGV applications also being looked into by NRG/Electra.

The City Corporation are leading the way for change and have carried out presentations at various conferences to educate and inform the City Corporation’s residents and businesses. They are proud to announce that the 2018 Lord Mayor’s show had Autonomous cars represented and a trial of Autonomous sweepers is due for late 2019.