LoCity TfL Agenda for Van Working Group, Monday 26 September 2016
Welcome and introduction by Chair Carl Lomas, IOC. Express guests included Addison Lee, DHL, GLH, Gnewt Cargo & Prestige, there were national players including the AA and Ocado, Iveco, Ford and Nissan amongst the manufacturers and a host of technologies represented from Arcola with hydrogen through light and heavy gas providers.
Agenda was staunchly alternative fuels, there was no talk on consolidation, training or re-timing but the discussions were motivated and outcome driven with a huge focus on need for infrastructure, a project to focus and drive infrastructure. The van group clearly has two streams, operators who return vehicles for fuel or charge to their base and operators whose drivers base vehicles at home, unlikely to have off-street parking, garage or charging facilities, The two groups are very different and each face infrastructure challenges that are quite different.
Update on ULEZ Ultra Low Emissions Zone by Simon Roberts,
The mayor is proposing ULEZ to come forward to 2019, expanding the zone out to the north circular (15,000 responses in the first consultation) TfL are working with other parties on charging points. The T charge to use existing congestion zone infrastructure, from next year, ten pounds a day for euro four and below in the congestion zone.
Many Questions and requests for more detail from the floor.
Sarah Wixey introduced the new interactive vehicle matrix tool , asking the room for more input to populate vehicles and solutions to a wider audience.
With so many national players at the tables, the other cities had been invited for a snapshot review.
TfGM, Greater Manchester Helen Smith, head of freight,
We are working with the northern power house, we have air, road and rail in addition to port of Liverpool and the Manchester ship canal, all modes. We are working on a 2040 strategy, in consultation on air quality. We have a 2020 greenhouse gas reduction target at 40%, congestion, sound & cycle safety are all issues. Compared to London we have a better safety record between HGV and cycle than London. We are looking to align with LoCity. Air quality just signed off by DEFRA, We are working hard to use data in real time on traffic movement.
Coventry Lee-Rose Jordan,
We are finalizing our air quality plans, we are part of West Midlands combined authority and working closely with Birmingham. We are keen to link with LoCity. Coventry was one of the first cities to launch electric vehicles, the city is key in taxicab manufacture, we are hoping to install clean air sensors across the city and collect more data, we want input on technology before Dec 18 for funding projects.
DfT briefing notes from Jenny Keating, Freight carbon review, eco driving 7 Industry freight collaboration project.
At demand from previous meetings, time for networking across the group was strongly available, best practice, technical opportunities and vehicle availability in the market place was headed by charging access and infrastructure.
