Carl Lomas, Inst Of Chair was at TfL HQ Palestra House for a very full alternative fuel group meeting of LoCity celebrating a decade of the group in the 25th year of TfL. Theatre style seating focused on clean air transport for London. Chairing LoCity, Lomas did his regular energetic introduction of operators, suppliers and manufacturers to generate a challenge board from the operators in the room. A decade in the making. Infrastructure topped Operators challenges , from copper in ground for depots to getting cables to owner drivers at street side. DfT were in the room and applauded for the return of van grant, £5k for vans up to 4.25t. Further news was waiting for legislation that is expected to drop the exiting training issue dedicated to EV use. Much focus on Feb 2025 LoCity went to HGV, but the event was opened in the green-walled room with an update on the launch of TfL's London Cargo Bike policy aimed at delivering safety.
Discussion turned to cost of zero emission, London operators asked ‘Can we have free tunnel tolls for EV vehicles?’
TFL Cargo bike policy launch by John Osthutzen
‘Making the cargo bike safe’
John Osthutzen TfL explained TfL launch of the new London Cargo Bike Safety Standard, the key is to make the cargo bike safe. John explained, ‘The voluntary standard will drive good industry practice and deliver real safety benefits all while supporting the continued growth of cargo bike use in London. TfL analysis shows that Cargo Bike use has grown by 63%, year on year, and TfL estimate that cargo bikes could replace up to 17 per cent of van kilometres in central London by 2030.
The new safety standard
1. Identifies 19 principal risks associated with cargo bikes, operators and riders, including dangerous delivery locations, vehicle maintenance and blind spots caused by bike structure
2. Provides 21 mandatory requirements for cargo bike riders and operators to mitigate against these risks, including cycling and parking conduct, and rider training
3. Identifies further recommendations, such as carrying out dynamic risk assessments and sourcing bikes from trusted manufacturers
IOC have a link to the detailed new standard here.
IOC chair Carl Lomas, welcomes the TfL London Safety Standard for Cargo Bikes published this month.
TfL have clearly taken very seriously a code and standard everyone could work towards.’
IOC national cargo bike group chair Alan Dickinson comments,
This is a great step in the right direction towards governance for cargo bikes.
Oli Lord keynote on Amsterdam Clean Emission Zone for freight
Oli spoke Zero emission cores at heart of Dutch cities. ‘We need to get diesel out of London.’
Oli Lord Clean Cities, spoke passionately about emissions, ‘we are seeing increase in kilometres for vans, we are seeing a lag in sales for ev vans in the UK. The DFT grant announcement this week is fantastic. News from the Netherlands, zero emission zones for freight are arriving in Dutch cities. Amsterdam and other Dutch cities have low emission zones that already then have zero emission centre core areas. We believe zero emission freight is critical to London goals. We need to get diesel out of London. Clean Cites wants to talk to you.
Anna Krajinska - Zero emission truck mandate
ZEV truck fleet is expanding very slowly.
Its time to ask govt for HGV large fleet consultation.
Anna Krajinska explained, ‘Very few EV trucks in the UK fleet of almost half a million HGV vehicles. EV trucks are on the market today, total cost of ownership for EV trucks is becoming comparable to diesel today. Only 278 large zero emission trucks were sold in the UK last year. It needs regulation on zero emission to drive truck supply, we need truck supply to build to influence big power charging supply. More supply will drive costs down for operator delivery of HGV units. Anna was talking 2040 2050 for key steps. Its time to ask govt for large fleet consultation. Biggest question rally went to Anna as LoCity guests engaged strongly on EV HGV futures.
Outcomes from TfL's clean freight engagement
Feedback on long charge times acting as a purchase barrier to EV consumer.
‘60% of operators asked for public charging infrastructure.’
Caroline Bunder reviewed freight engagement at TFL. A look at hesitation to engage EV while infrastructure catch up took place. Brief thoughts on hydrogen. Engagement discussion answers were concern for long charge times. From the TFL London survey we got almost three hundred responses. There was a breadth of stakeholders, 60% of operators asked for public charging infrastructure.
eFreight 2030 Electric HGV (rollout programme)
A national coverage for HGV charging with DFT grant.
Michael Boxwell Voltempo key note on large charging solutions. Range is arriving, We need volume to get costs down. We need legislation to deal with vehicle weights. Talking support for national players in freight, a year in to the project programme working to 2031. Michael has 35 HGV charge bays around the UK, often at the UK ports. Multi bays and built with a DFT grant. Sir Vince Cable is chair of the consortium. A collaboration between major fleets, vehicle manufacturers and data providers. We have HGV charge sites at East Midlands Gateway. We have ev charging to get trucks from East Midlands to France and back same day. British technology is leading the way in this truck EV technology, placing batteries onto the trailer has pushed HGV range up to 400 miles. Target for this year is 100 trucks across more than ten fleets operating across the 35 charge sites.
LoCity meets twice a year - Next LoCity meeting is Sept
LoCity TFL event photo gallery
Ten years of TfL LoCity - Chair Carl Lomas with TfL team Isaac Little & Laura Carleton
The keynotes
Cargo bike policy
Caroline Buneder TFL
