Nine fleet operators sign up to clean van pledge

Nine fleet operators including Arval, Mitie, British Heart Foundation and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets have signed up to the Clean Van Commitment, a pledge to ensure vans in cities are zero-emission by 2028.

The UK’s 4 million diesel vans contribute 30% of UK road transport’s nitrous oxide emissions, and at the moment there are a mere 5,000 zero emission vans on UK roads, and at current rates, it would take more than 3,000 years to wipe out diesel from the entire national van fleet.

In total, businesses and organisations that are part of the commitment have pledged to buy 65,000 electric vans.

Eddie Parker, Product Manager LCV, Arval said: ‘Arval are pleased to join the Clean Air Commitment, to encourage the take-up of zero tailpipe emission vans in cities. It mirrors closely our global focus upon SMaRT Mobility and improvements in environmental health and sustainable development.’

John Maingay, director of policy and influencing, British Heart Foundation added: ‘Air pollution represents the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, and almost six out of 10 deaths related to outdoor air pollution worldwide are a result of heart disease or stroke. We desperately need urgent action to clean up the UK’s air.

‘By signing up to the Clean Van Commitment, we are demonstrating our commitment to protecting the nation’s health from air pollution. We urge other charities and organisations with vehicle fleets to follow our lead and pledge to moving towards zero emissions, helping to potentially save thousands of lives in the future.’

Earlier this year, London hosted a national air quality summit with city leaders from across the UK calling on Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, and the Health Secretary, Matthew Hancock, to fund a national scrappage scheme, which the government had previously ruled out.

With London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) now in effect, organisations can apply for either a payment of £6,000 to scrap a non-compliant van or minibus and help with running costs of a new electric vehicle, or a payment of £3,500 to scrap a non-compliant van or minibus which can be used to purchase a newer ULEZ compliant Euro 6 vehicle or hire vehicles from Zipcar, Northgate Hire, Enterprise and Europcar.

You can find out more about the Clean Van Commitment and sign up to the CVC on their website.