Life After The T-Charge: BVRLA

Monday, October 23, 2017 - 17:30
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As London launches its T-Charge Clean Air Zone for cars and commercial vehicles.

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has today published a blueprint for delivering a cost-effective transition away from diesel vehicles in urban areas.

BVRLA members provide car sharing and vehicle rental and leasing to businesses and consumers across the UK, operating a fleet of more than 4.7 million vehicles, representing 1-in-8 cars, 1-in-5 vans and 1-in-5 trucks licensed to operate on UK roads.

Switching from vehicle ownership to vehicle usership can provide drivers of older vehicles with a cost-effective transport solution as members’ fleets are already compliant with the T-Charge emissions standards and will enable drivers to avoid the £10 daily charge placed on pre-Euro 4/IV diesel and petrol vehicles travelling in the zone.

Diesel vehicles are responsible for most of the roadside air quality issues faced by UK towns and cities, and their use in these areas needs to be phased out in a way that can improve public health while minimising the impact on local businesses and the wider economy. The BVRLA welcome the fact that the T-Charge does not penalise drivers of newer cleaner diesel vehicles and instead focusses on older, higher polluting vehicles.

Using the same methodology used by government policymakers to assess their national air quality plan, the BVRLA has produced a high-level blueprint for a managed transition that reduces diesel market-share in the most environmentally and economically effective way. Produced by Ecuity Consulting, the report Diesel vehicle market-share reduction analysis has four main conclusions.

•  The government should focus its efforts on reducing diesel car use in urban areas. Around one-third of car use is on urban roads and electric and hybrid cars represent an increasingly affordable alternative.

•  A steady transition away from using diesel vehicles will enable the supply chain and consumers to move to alternative technologies without incurring too many costs.

•  Government policy should focus on trying to reduce car ownership instead of just choosing alternative vehicles. A scrappage scheme that provides mobility credits for public transport, car club and car rental journeys could stimulate this behaviour change.

•  The government needs to provide a consistent clean air zone policy framework across the UK to avoid placing extra burdens or costs on people and businesses driving between urban areas.

“Diesel vehicles play an essential role in transporting goods and people around the country, but the emissions they produce on low-speed urban roads means they have no long-term future in our cities,” said BVRLA Chief Executive, Gerry Keaney.

“We need a carefully blended set of incentives and restrictions that removes the oldest, most polluting diesel vehicles without crippling our economy or punishing people for decisions they have already made.

“The vehicle rental and leasing industry has a huge stake in this transition and we look forward to working with local and national government to deliver a workable solution.”

 

Commenting on the introduction of London’s Emissions Surcharge (also known as a ‘Toxicity Charge’ or ‘T-Charge’) on 23rd October, Matthew Walters, Head of Consultancy and Customer Data Services at LeasePlan UK, said:

“Many fleets will already be ready for London’s T-Charge. So long as their cars, vans and HGVs are at least Euro 4/IV compliant, they will avoid the £10-a-day surcharge that Sadiq Khan is imposing on older vehicles.

“Despite this, the introduction of the T-Charge is still a significant moment for fleets. It represents another step towards an Ultra-Low Emission Zone in London, which is likely to come into force in 2019. A greater number of vehicles will be affected by this measure, as well as by the Clean Air Zones planned for elsewhere in the country.

“LeasePlan is encouraging fleets – and motorists more generally – to prepare for this future, which is why we’ve become a founding partner of EV100. We’re always looking at what’s next, and greener motoring is a crucial part of that.”

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