HGV operators should adopt approved vehicle retrofit solutions to meet the demands of London’s newly expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone, according to Zemo Partnership.
The new London ULEZ, launched today, (25 October) will be 18 times the size of the current central area, covering all of London up to but not including the North and South Circular roads.
The Zone, which will operate for 24 hours seven days a week, excluding Christmas Day, is estimated to affect 100,000 cars, 35,000 vans and 3,000 lorries.
Transport for London says that the original central London ULEZ has seen air pollution reduced by half.
Zemo Partnership, formerly LowCVP, a public-private partnership working to accelerate the shift to low emission vehicles and fuels, has produced the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS).
This is jointly operated by Energy Saving Trust and Zemo, and identifies which CVRAS-approved companies and emission reduction systems suit vehicles best, based on make, model and engine type.
It also supports companies’ efforts to improve their fleets, and lists the only retrofit options available that comply with the regulations for the Ultra Low Emission Zone in London, Clean Air Zones and Scotland’s Low Emission Zones, all of which use the same vehicle standard thresholds.
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Zemo Partnership also recently published an updated Clean Vehicle Retrofit Technology guide. This gives operators an overview of national air quality frameworks for reducing roadside NO2 concentrations, providing case studies with examples of a range of accredited retrofit technologies that achieve Euro-6-equivalent levels of emissions through the CVRAS.
It covers technologies accredited for buses, coaches, trucks, refuse collection vehicles and black cabs, with many also applicable to vans.
Zemo Partnership’s project manager, Dan Hayes, said: “Retrofit solutions have been one of the key tools in the box to help owners of existing vehicles meet the strengthening emissions requirements without completely replacing their fleet in one go.
“Twenty years ago the uptake of particulate traps was accelerated in this way and, today, NOx reduction technologies, mandated on all new vehicles, are now available to be retrofitted to a wide range of commercial vehicles. With funding support available in many local areas, retrofitting can be an attractive option for hard pressed operators to clean up emissions from existing vehicles.”
Zemo also provides links for operators to check the regulations for each clean air zone around the UK.
The CAZ checker link is here https://www.gov.uk/clean-air-zones
LEZ checker link is here: https://www.lowemissionzones.scot/get-ready/vehicle-registration-checker
ULEZ checker link is here https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/
