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The expansion of the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) to include Greater London and higher charges for all but the cleanest vehicles are being considered ahead of a possible road pricing scheme for the capital.

The Mayor of London says that ‘bold action’ is required now to improve air quality and cut congestion, but also wants Transport for London (TfL) to investigate the merits of road user charging technology.

It comes as a new report, published today (Tuesday, January 18) by Element Energy and commissioned by the Mayor of London, sets out the action required to move London towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Nearly half of Londoners don’t own a car, but they are disproportionally feeling the damaging consequences polluting vehicles are causing.  

“We have too often seen measures to tackle air pollution and the climate emergency delayed around the world, because it’s viewed as being too hard or politically inconvenient, but I’m not willing to put off action we have the ability to implement here in London.”

The report sets out that to achieve required reduction in car use in the capital will need a new kind of road user charging system implemented by the end of the decade at the latest.

Such a system, says the Mayor, could abolish all existing road user charges – such as the congestion charge and ULEZ – and replace them with a scheme where drivers pay per mile, with different rates depending on how polluting vehicles are, the level of congestion in the area and access to public transport.

Subject to consultation, it is likely there would be exemptions and discounts for those on low incomes and with disabilities, as well as consideration around support for charities and small businesses.

However, recognising that the technology to implement such a scheme will take time, Khan says that action must be taken now.

The potential approaches under consideration in the short term are:

Extending the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) beyond the north and south circular roads to cover the whole of Greater London, using the current charge level and emissions standards.

Modifying the ULEZ to make it even more impactful by extending it to cover the whole of Greater London and adding a small clean air charge for all but the cleanest vehicles.

Introducing a clean air charge: a low-level daily charge across all of Greater London for all but the cleanest vehicles.

Introducing a Greater London boundary charge, which would charge a small fee to non-London registered vehicles entering Greater London, responding to the increase in cars from outside London travelling into the city seen in recent years.

TfL says it will launch a public consultation on the short-term options, speaking to local government and businesses about the way forward.

Subject to consultation and feasibility study, the chosen scheme would be implemented by May 2024.

Gerry Keaney, chief executive of trade group, the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), welcomed the Mayor’s plans, which he said complemented the BVRLA’s ongoing support for shared mobility models and a “clear roadmap” for road pricing.

“Importantly, this announcement gives the industry time to implement the changes that are essential to making the targets reality,” explained Keaney.

“London does not only have an emissions problem, it has a congestion problem too. We need fewer, cleaner private cars on the road.

“Car clubs, alongside rental and leased vehicles provide the solution to this while keep people mobile and offering positive alternatives to public transport.”

The ULEZ currently covers an area up to, but not including, the North Circular Road (A406) and South Circular Road (A205). It was expanded in the autumn and is now 18 times larger than the original central London ULEZ, which had occupied the same area as the congestion charge zone.

Masternaut estimated that the cost to fleets of that last expansion of the clean air zone (CAZ) could be as high as £54 million. 

Christina Calderato, director of transport strategy and policy at TfL, said: “Road based transport has for many years been a major contributor towards poor air quality and carbon emissions and we are determined to reverse this through a wide range of programmes across TfL.

“The world-leading road user charging schemes we’ve delivered throughout the last 20 years have been really effective in addressing congestion and tackling air quality across London, but it is clear that as a city we need to go further.

“These new approaches will allow us to take further steps towards a net-zero city and we will ensure that Londoners and those who regularly visit London are involved as we progress this work in more detail.”

The merits of a national road pricing scheme to plug a potential £40 billion shortfall from road taxes, including fuel duty, were expected to be investigated as part of the Government’s Net Zero Strategy, but were omitted from the final report.

Arguing the environmental benefits of road pricing, Khan says he wants greater support to reduce carbon emissions in London. It will also raise revenue for TfL, which recently had emergency funding from the Government extended until February 4.

Ministers agreed a £1.08bn funding package to help TfL recover from the coronavirus pandemic in June.

The bailout, which provided financial support for the hard-hit transport authority until December 11, followed two emergency support packages agreed in April and October 2020, and took Government support to TfL since March 2020 to more than £4bn.

Tanya Sinclair, policy director for the UK and Ireland at ChargePoint, said: “We support road pricing, so long as it is designed with drivers and fleet operators in mind.

“Road pricing needs to be considered in the context of all the taxes, incentives and payments drivers make. It’s a balancing act – the UK Government needs to make sure that it isn’t giving out grant incentives with one hand and then taking them back through road pricing.

“The road pricing formula must encourage drivers to make cleaner vehicle and driving choices and no EV driver should pay more or lose out as a result of road pricing. However, this doesn’t mean EVs should pay nothing. They use the road like any other vehicle and should contribute appropriately, especially when it comes to reducing overall congestion.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

ZenAuto says it has seen a 172% increase in searches for electric cars on its car leasing website since September 2021, while Google searches peaked at a five-year high.

Zenith’s personal leasing division says this has been driven by the fuel supply shortage in September 2021, and the UN climate COP26 summit that took place in Glasgow in November 2021.

According to a poll of 4,000 motorists run by ZenAuto, one in five (19%) said the fuel crisis made them more eager to switch to an electric vehicle (EV) sooner, while a third (35%) said that COP26 had encouraged this.

Drivers in Bristol (30%), Belfast (25%), and Sheffield (17%) were found to be the most likely to move to an electric car sooner than they’re previously planned, as a direct result of the fuel crisis.

In contrast, drivers in Manchester were the most likely to report a change in their attitude to EVs following the COP26 summit, with nearly half (45%) saying it had made them more likely to switch to an EV sooner. Motorists in London weren’t far behind (44%), with a high number of Bristolians (39%) also agreeing.   

Vicky Kerridge, head of consumer experience and brand at ZenAuto, said: “Whilst the fuel crisis and COP26 clearly had an impact on the attitudes of non-electric car drivers in the UK, encouraging many to want to make the switch sooner, there are still some concerns that are holding a number back from being able to commit to an e-car.”

Two-thirds (68%) of non-EV drivers said they were put off by the initial cost of the vehicles, and more than half (58%) said prices would need to significantly reduce for them to buy in the next six months.

Access to charging points is also a top concern, with almost half (46%) feeling that the number of points in their area would need to significantly increase for this to be a viable option for them, and 38% saying they would want a free charging point provided for their home.

Kerridge said: “As a company, we’re doing all we can to help make the switch an easier and cheaper process for those wishing to do so.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

RAC patrols attended more than 10,000 pothole related breakdowns last year, the highest since 2018.

It’s the equivalent of 27 breakdowns per day, caused by poor-quality roads.

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “The rot appears to have well and truly set in when it comes to the country’s roads with our patrols going out to vast numbers of drivers who, through no fault of their own, are breaking down because of the wear-and-tear caused by potholes.

“This is ridiculous because it is almost entirely avoidable if roads were maintained properly. With drivers contributing so much in terms of tax to the Government the very least they deserve are roads that are fit-for-purpose.

“Inevitably we have plenty of cold weather still to come this winter and we fear that by the spring the number of drivers running into problems will rise even further. Not getting our roads into a decent shape is simply storing up more problems – and more expense – for the future.”

The breakdown company’s individual members experienced a total of 10,123 breakdowns for broken suspension springs, distorted wheels and damaged shock absorbers through last year, 10% more than in 2019 (9,198) and 19% more than in 2020 (8,524).

Last year’s total represented 1.5% of all the RAC’s call-outs, which is up from 1.2% in 2020, 1.1% in 2019 and 1.4% in 2018.

In the last three months of 2021, which was characterised by generally mild, damp weather across much of the UK, drivers experienced 1,688 pothole-related breakdowns which represented 0.9% of all the RAC’s call-outs during the period.

The RAC Pothole Index, which analyses pothole-related breakdowns together with the seasonal effects of the weather to give a true long-term indication of the condition of the UK’s roads, now stands at 1.63, up from 1.48 at the end of September 2021. The RAC says drivers are more than one-and-a-half times more likely to breakdown after hitting a pothole today than they were in 2006.

Lyes added: “On National Pothole Day, our message to the Government is clear – it’s time the tide was turned when it comes to potholes and local councils are given the levels of funding they need to get their roads up to a reasonable standard.

“Clearly, promises of one-off pots of cash from the Government to fix the problem haven’t done the trick and we urgently need some fresh thinking. Ring-fencing a proportion of existing taxation and earmarking these funds purely for local roads over a long-term period would give councils the financial confidence they need to plan their road maintenance work, and finally break the back on this age-old problem. This is something we know would be popular with drivers.”

Research for the RAC Report on Motoring shows that the condition and maintenance of local roads is drivers’ top motoring related concern. Nearly half of respondents (46%) last year said the quality of local roads was a problem, up from 38% a year earlier.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

A new type of automotive battery technology could be used to increase the range of electric vehicles (EVs) by up to five times.

Scientists at the University of Michigan have developed a solution that enables lithium-sulpher batteries, which have a much higher capacity than the lithium-ion technology currently used in EVs, to be used in automotive applications.

Lithium-sulpher batteries were previously unsuitable for EVs as they could only be cycled (discharged and recharged) 10 times, rather than the 1,000-plus that’s required.

“There are a number of reports claiming several hundred cycles for lithium-sulfur batteries, but it is achieved at the expense of other parameters—capacity, charging rate, resilience and safety. The challenge nowadays is to make a battery that increases the cycling rate from the former 10 cycles to hundreds of cycles and satisfies multiple other requirements including cost,” said Nicholas Kotov, the Irving Langmuir Distinguished University Professor of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, who led the research.

A new battery membrane, developed by the team, prevents premature degradation within the battery to achieve the required cycles needed to power a typical EV.

Kotov says that the design is “nearly perfect,” with its capacity and efficiency approaching the theoretical limits. It can also handle the temperature extremes of automotive life, from the heat of charging in full sun to the chill of winter.

Lithium-sulfur batteries can be produced more sustainability as sulfur is more abundant than cobalt, which is needed for lithium-ion units. The new membrane can also be produced by recycling old bulletproof vests.

The University of Michigan has patented the membrane and Kotov is developing a company to bring it to market. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Gridserve has increased the cost of charging an electric vehicle (EV) on its network, blaming spiralling costs impacting the energy sector.

Pricing for medium power chargers – typically 60kW – which are primarily located at motorway service areas is increasing from 30p to 39p per kWh with immediate effect.

However, it said that pricing for high power chargers – up to 350kW – located at its newly developed Electric Hubs (of which it currently has 13 in construction), is 45p per kWh.

It is also keeping pricing at 39p per kWh – even for 350kW chargers – at its Electric Forecourts thanks to onsite solar generation and battery storage which gives the company more control over energy and distribution costs.

Gridserve says that it recognises the better the economics are for using EVs versus petrol or diesel, “the quicker people will make the switch”.

It is why the company says it is investing in new solar energy and battery projects which help to protect customers against the type of price hikes and instability that is currently affecting the energy market.

Gridserve says it wants to revolutionise EV charging across the UK, following the acquisition of Ecotricity’s Electric Highway network in June 2021.

It is expecting to open more than 20 ‘electric hubs’, each featuring 6-12 x 350kW ultra high-power electric vehicle (EV) charge points with contactless payment, at motorway service stations across the UK by Q2 2022.

The majority should be installed by the end of March, with a further 50 additional electric hub sites set to follow. 

Two Electric Forecourts situated adjacent to major transport routes and motorways, including a flagship site at Gatwick Airport and Norwich, are also in construction, due to open in 2022.

Several additional Electric Forecourt sites now also have planning permission including Uckfield, Gateshead, Plymouth and Bromborough, with more than 30 additional sites also under development as part of the company’s commitment to deliver over 100 Electric Forecourts.

Gridserve’s price hike follows InstaVolt raising its prices from 40p/kWh to 45p/kWh from December 1, as a result of the increases in the wholesale price of energy.

BP Pulse also increased its prices from December saying that the charging network was “no longer able to absorb the rising costs”.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Handover is becoming an increasingly vital part of the vehicle delivery process as more fleets adopt electric vehicles (EVs), according to DMN Logistics.

The Birmingham-based national vehicle movement and inspection firm says handover is the driver’s best chance to find out as much information about their new vehicle.

With the increase in online vehicle transactions, many drivers may be less familiar with the actual functionality of vehicles with some only seeing their new car or van for the first time on delivery.

With operational differences and different driving and charging experiences, DMN says vehicle delivery operatives are best placed to inform, educate and offer quick and practical demonstrations during the vehicle handover.

Nick Chadaway, managing director at DMN Logistics said, “When taking delivery of your new EV you should take the time to become accustomed to the new vehicle and use the time with the delivery driver wisely. Our vehicle delivery operatives have had to adapt to new learning systems and therefore are best equipped to advise new car owners on how to drive an EV most efficiently.

“They are in the best position to ask for advice, and we suggest customers utilise their knowledge to gain familiarity and a better understanding of their new vehicle so that they feel more confident making the switch.

“It is vital to gain as much insight into the vehicle before getting on the road.”

DMN Logistics has outlined some key tips for drivers taking delivery of a new vehicle:

• Before the delivery of your new vehicle, think about questions you have about the car to ask the delivery operatives – they will be able to answer your questions as they drive these vehicles every day.
• Ask about the basic differences in driving an ICE to an EV, especially slowing down / braking. The answer should help you feel more confident in driving it for the first time.
• Ask about charging. Delivery operatives can explain the ‘handshake’ between the plug and the car so that you are aware of the correct technique to use to ensure efficient charging and no delays.
• Ask about any features included in the car to help with driving efficiency. Ask for a demonstration of the technology to gain a better understanding and real-time experience on the software.
• To help deter range anxiety, ask questions about expected mileage in relation to battery charge levels. The operative will be able to give you a ‘typical’ mileage on a certain percentage of charge. It is also a good idea to ask about eco-mode and how this improves range.

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Transport for London (TfL) increased the maximum fine handed out for red route contraventions to £160, from January 17.

A public consultation for the proposals was held between August 5 and September 19 ,2021.

The maximum penalty charge notice (PCN) for red route contraventions was £130, a fee that was set in 2011.

TfL says the higher fine level will be a more effective deterrent and will, over time, lead to a “reduced level of contraventions and help to keep the road network safe for everyone”.

The penalty charge will be reduced by 50% if paid within 14 days and increased by 50% if paid after 28 days.

The increase brings the charges in line with the penalties for non-payment of the Congestion Charge and the Ultra-Low Emission Zone, which are also currently set at £160.

TfL says any revenue raised through  penalty notices is invested back into London’s transport network, which includes investing in its road network to improve safety for all road users. 

There was a 26% increase in the number of PCNs issued for parking, loading, bus lane and moving traffic offences between 2016 and 2019.

Red routes make up 5% of roads but carry 30% of the traffic. Stopping is generally prohibited on these roads, outside of designated locations and times clearly marked by signs. 

TfL says failing to follow the rules and signs at junctions creates safety risks, disrupts traffic and creates congestion.

Siwan Hayward, TfL’s director of Compliance, Policing, Operations and Security, said: “We are committed to keeping London moving safely and efficiently, and compliance on the Transport for London Road Network is essential in achieving those aims. Non-compliance impacts London’s air quality, creates safety risks, disrupts traffic and creates congestion for everyone.

“Increasing the penalty charge for contraventions on our road network in line with inflation will provide a more effective deterrent to drivers and improve the safety and reliability of the network.”  

TfL also recently announced that it intends to make its trial of 24-hour bus lanes permanent, after a trial found that extending bus lane hours on London’s busiest roads cut journey times and helped reliability, making bus use more attractive and helping to encourage more Londoners onto buses.

Natalie Chapman, head of policy for the south at Logistics UK, said: “Logistics businesses need road and kerbside access to deliver the essential items businesses and consumers in the capital need.

“Transport for London (TfL) has failed to identify in its research whether some businesses are receiving repeat fines due to the lack of safe and legal spots to load and unload deliveries that their livelihoods depend on.

“Without road design in place that supports logistics, this charge level increase will not provide the deterrent TfL intends, it will simply penalise some essential delivery and servicing activities.

“The costs of doing business in the capital are increasing already across the board, for example, the Congestion Charge is not returning back to its lower pre-pandemic level as was expected; now is not the time to add yet another cost without a clear strategy, particularly while London and the rest of the UK recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.” By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Shell has opened its first electric vehicle (EV) charging hub that replaces a traditional fuel filling station, in Fulham.

The South West London site features nine ultra-rapid 175kW charge points that are powered by 100% renewable energy.

István Kapitány, Shell’s global executive vice president for Mobility, said: “EV drivers are looking for a charging experience that is as fast, convenient and comfortable as possible. This is exactly what Shell Fulham aims to offer.

“It joins our growing network of Shell Recharge sites at forecourts and other locations, our ubitricity on-street charging network, and our Shell Recharge Solutions for homes and businesses as we increasingly help EV drivers to charge wherever they need it.”

Shell Fulham features a sustainable design including a timber canopy with built-in solar panels, and roof and shop windows that employ double glazing with high insulating properties.

The hub includes a seating area, free Wi-Fi, a Costa Coffee cafe and a Little Waitrose & Partners store.

It serves as a global pilot for Shell and is the company’s first existing site to be converted to cater solely for electric vehicles.

Transport Minister Trudy Harrison said: “With more people making the switch to EVs than ever before, this is exactly the type of facility we need to help make the transition as simple as possible for drivers up and down the country.

“This Government has committed £2.5bn to vehicle grants and infrastructure to support the switch to EVs. In addition to Government efforts, it is equally encouraging to see businesses support the EV transition – and Shell’s new hub is a brilliant example of the UK’s huge effort to go-green and reach our important net-zero targets.”

With more than 130 full or hybrid electric vehicle models now available to buyers, EV sales in the UK are accelerating rapidly. In December 2021, 27,705 EVs were sold, making up 25.5% of all new registrations that month. For sales and utilisation of EVs to continue accelerating, Shell says investment in charging infrastructure will likewise need to grow apace.

Shell has previously stated an ambition to install 50,000 on-street chargers in the UK by 2025 through Shell-owned company ubitricity, and in July 2021 announced that up to 800 Shell electric vehicle charging points would be installed in as many as 100 Waitrose sites across the UK by 2025. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

More than a quarter (26.7%) of drivers have said they will try to avoid having an electric vehicle (EV) for as long as possible, according the results of a survey by Fleet Evolution.

An electric vehicle attitude survey, carried out by Aston University for the EV salary sacrifice and fleet management firm, has revealed a lack of knowledge and entrenched attitudes that still exist towards EVs

The attitude survey, which went out to around 10,000 drivers, fleet and HR managers, small businesses and private motorists, was designed to gauge views on electric cars and charging infrastructure, vehicle operating costs and the desire to switch to EVs. 

When asked about the Government’s ban on the sale of new ICE cars and vans by 2030, some 26.7% of respondents said they would continue to buy used petrol or diesel models for as long as possible after the ban came into force.

The majority of respondents (40%) said the next car they buy would be a diesel, followed by 30% who said electric.

Fleet Evolution founder and managing director, Andrew Leech, said: “There are still a number of misconceptions around EVs, particularly the costs involved, and we found it quite staggering that over a quarter of people surveyed said they would never switch to an EV come what may.

“This is rather at odds with the Government’s decision to embrace an all-electric future as laid out in its Road to Zero strategy as it strives to achieve net zero by 2050.”

When asked what impact the introduction of a local Clean Air Zone would have on their commuting habits, some 32% said it would have no impact as they would choose to pay the charge on their existing vehicle, while a further 21% said they would switch to public transport rather than an EV.

Turning to attitudes to switching to an electric car and the factors that made people hesitate in making the transition, 36% of respondents said cost, 28% said range anxiety and 25% said lack of public charging.

Charging infrastructure was an area where lack of detailed knowledge was clearly apparent amongst most respondents, according to Fleet Evolution.

Two thirds (67%) of those surveyed said they did not live within five minutes of a public charge point. But, when further confidential checks were carried out on their postcodes, it was found that some 40% of those actually had one or more within a five-minute walk of their home.

Leech, added: “It was disappointing that cost was still seen as the major barrier to more widespread EV adoption given the wider availability of more affordable electric models.

“There also seemed to be a genuine lack of awareness that an EV acquired under a corporate salary sacrifice scheme is extremely cost and tax efficient given the current tax regime which is highly beneficial for electric cars.

“The lack of awareness over charging availability was something we have seen before but overlooks, not only the rapidly growing public charging network, but the benefits of having chargers installed at the workplace.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Peugeot’s MPV range, which includes the Rifter and Traveller, will be exclusively available as electric-only in the UK.

 

The manufacturer says that it has made the decision to focus on the e-Rifter and e-Traveller to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs).

It comes as fellow Stellantis brands, Citroen and Vauxhall announce similar moves.

Citroen is making passenger versions of Berlingo and SpaceTourer models only available as electric models in the UK. 

 

Meanwhile, Vauxhall says its family lifestyle vehicles Combo Life and Vivaro Life will also go exclusively electric as part of its drive to offer an electrified variant across its entire model line-up by 2024 and be fully electric by 2028.

The move comes after the UK saw the largest year-on-year increase in EV registrations.

Last year, fully electric vehicles accounted for more than one in nine new cars sold, representing a 76% increase on 2020, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Julie David, managing director of Peugeot, said: “Peugeot is committed to electrification, with a goal of offering a fully electric variant across our entire model line-up by 2024.

“Already we offer a fully electric van across our entire LCV portfolio, so with our award-winning MPV range now exclusively available as electric vehicles, we’re catering for the growing demand for zero-tailpipe emissions vehicles.”

Built on Peugeot’s EMP2 (Efficient Modular Platform 2), the e-Rifter can be specified as either a five or seven-seat model. Powered by a 100kW (136hp) electric motor and a 50kWh battery, the e-Rifter is capable of up to 172 miles (WLTP) from a single charge.

Five-seat variants of the e-Rifter are available in Allure Premium and GT trims, while seven-seat models are sold exclusively in Allure Premium.

Peugeot’s e-Traveller is available in both Standard and Long body styles, and both variants are capable of carrying up to eight occupants.

Also powered by a 50kWh battery and a 100kW (136hp) electric motor, the e-Traveller can achieve up to 148 miles between charges.

The e-Traveller is available in Active and Allure trims for Standard variants, while Long variants are sold exclusively in Allure trim. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News