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ROUNDTABLE Fleet policy for a zero emission future
As fleets are coming to terms with the enduring effects that Covid-19 has had on operations, attention is now turning once again to the long term need to become zero emission. To discuss progress and current challenges, a diverse group of fleets and emission reduction specialists attended GreenFleet’s virtual roundtable on 9 September
One of the few benefits of the lockdown It is clear that lots of planning and analysis earlier this year is the improvement in air is already happening behind the scenes; quality in towns and cities across the UK, including fleet analysis, surveying buildings, with NO2 levels in some London roads understanding power requirements and dropping by 55 per cent according to King’s infrastructure, as well as developing new College London. This has really partnerships and supply chains. A highlighted the dramatic theme throughout the roundtable Whilst impact that road traffic was the need for more flexibility small ele has on air quality, and both in terms of fleet ctric vans ha has propelled the policies and operations. v agenda for cleaner Some fleets, such as derogat e a weight io transportation and the Southern Health n t h at categor zero emission. NHS Foundation Trust, y B licen allows ce hold to drive The ongoing have already updated ers EVs introduction their fleet policies whilst there re up to 4.25t, and extension others have completed a mained some of low emission comprehensive strategy frustratio n over zones across the review, in the case of London vehicle UK has further Ambulance resulting in a choice accelerated the need to fleet plan extending to 2030. align fleet policies around compliance. And the pressure Impacts of COVID 19 is on; some fleets are preparing for a full Speed of response was of paramount ZE Zone in London as early as 2025. importance at the start of the pandemic with
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DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net
some operators reporting exceptional demand for goods and services. Chris Rutherford, head of fleet strategy at London Ambulance, commented that the service has changed beyond recognition: “The NHS has proved that they can make dramatic changes in a short period of time, decisions are made more agilely, and you can see change happening much more quickly.” The aim is to ensure that this momentum can now be directed towards creating a zero emission fleet. “It is my responsibility to make sure the decisions are the greener options,” Chris added. Servicing and maintenance was identified as another, less obvious, benefit to having battery electric vehicles on the fleet during lockdown: “EVs take nowhere near the effort that petrol and diesel vehicles do when keeping them on the road,” observed Mick Cook from Babcock International. And the electric vehicles were reported to be much more reliable when out on the road; with less moving parts the full battery EVs have less to go wrong.
