Companies urged to prepare now for a low emission future or risk losing business

Van and truck operators could lose out to more forward-thinking competitors if they don’t start investigating the potential for ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) on their fleets, Government officials have warned.

The call to action comes as an increasing number of diesel alternatives are being developed, offering reduced emissions in response to environmental challenges and the roll out of clean air zones (CAZs) in the UK, which could see some fleet vehicles banned from town and city centres if they don’t update their vehicles to cut carbon pollution.

The Government, through Innovate UK, is trying to kick-start the journey to a green future among van and truck fleets with a £20 million initiative to develop new technology and vehicles through its Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trial, launched in January 2017.

Venn Chesterton, ultra-low emission vehicle innovation lead at Innovate UK, cautioned that it was important for fleets to carry out assessments and trials now, to avoid falling behind in the clean air race.

He said: “There could be a point where clean air zones are introduced, or customers demand goods are delivered by electric vehicle and that could happen very quickly.

“In these circumstances, if your competitors have experience with ultra-low emission vehicles, such as electric vehicles, or operate them, then that puts them ahead.

“Some forward-thinking companies are already picking this up and running with it. If you don’t do this then, in a few years’ time, a company could find itself at a competitive disadvantage.”

Under the trial, 20 companies are developing initiatives for innovative ways to deploy low- and zero-emission vehicle technology.

Several trials are already taking place and all of them will be live by this September, although Chesterton said that the real focus will be on the data when all trials are completed in a year’s time.

He said: “Everything is going along as planned, with all projects on track to have started by the end of the summer.

“For Innovate UK, starting is not the sole focus, we are most interested in the results after vehicles have been operated for a full year.

“Analysis will look at how they are used, how many miles they cover and establish a baseline against equivalent diesel vehicles. With that you get a change in emissions, where we are targeting a reduction.”

Freight accounts for about 30 per cent of the UK’s CO2 transport emissions, so there is pressure to develop supply and demand around low emission options for the industry.

To establish a level playing field for assessment, vehicles will be put through standardised tests at Millbrook Proving Ground that closely reflect freight and logistics operating cycles, covering usage ranging from urban and rural areas to trunk roads.

The real-world view of operators is also being assessed, Chesterton said.

Operators and managers will be interviewed at depots to understand issues such as driver attitudes, downtime, operational restrictions and fuel savings.

Chesterton added: “We are trying to understand their views in the real world, so some interviews might be carried out at refuelling stations.

“Success will be getting results from the technology. The Government has a technology-neutral approach, but it can signal to market what has done well.

“We can provide the market with a definition of what a low-emission truck looks like, so that we can provide clarity to the market.

“We will also be able to provide the scale of the benefit. For example, a gas truck might be 10 per cent more efficient, while an electric truck could be 50 per cent more efficient and this unified approach would help inform future incentives.”

The Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trial programme complements initiatives such as LoCity, along with a broad range of other initiatives designed to promote efficiency in the logistics sector.

These include the Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS), a voluntary accreditation scheme with 4,800 members that promotes best practice for commercial vehicle operators, and the ECO Stars fleet recognition scheme, a free initiative that aims to help fleet operators improve efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and emissions and make cost savings.

Chesterton said: “The Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trial is taking a dual approach, with real-world trials and analysis, so that in a year’s time we will have a really good understanding of the vehicles and their real-world performance.

“Some of these technologies are at a late stage of development.”

In total, around 300 vehicles will be involved in the trial.