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The Freight Transport Association says
that with only 50 working days remaining before the implementation of
the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ), many operators have still not got
their fleets ready. On 4 February 2008 all vehicles over 12 tonnes will
have to meet the Euro 3 standards for particulate matter (PM10).
Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes come into the scheme on 7 July, along with
buses and coaches (over 9 seats). The standard can be met by using
vehicles bought since October 2001, when the Euro 3 standard became the
norm, or by having the vehicle fitted with a particulate trap.
A third option, which is helping lots
of operators, is the Eligible Engines List.
The Eligible Engines List shows a
number of older engines that were built under earlier standards but
nevertheless have very low levels of particulates. Any vehicle that is
on the list can have an additional VOSA smoke test, either as part of
the MOT or separately, and get a Low Emissions Certificate (LEC). The
LEC is valid for a year – the same as a Reduced Pollution Certificate –
and allows operators to use the vehicle in the Low Emission Zone without
further charge.
So far over 2,000 LECs have been issued
by VOSA, representing an enormous saving in reduced compliance costs of
over £10 million. Although there have also been around 400 test
failures, these are largely down to poor preparation or putting forward
vehicles which are not eligible for LECs.
The Low Emissions Certificate came
about through lobbying by FTA and its partners. The aim was to get
recognition for the decades of innovation by vehicle manufacturers to
build engines as clean as possible to minimise the impacts on the
communities in which they were operating.
Gordon Telling, FTA’s Head of Policy
for London, South East & East of England said, ‘Whilst we have never
made a secret of our opposition to the introduction of the Low Emission
Zone, believing that there are better ways to improve air quality, we
have made every effort to explore how to reduce its impact on our
members and the industry as a whole. The work by FTA on getting a Low
Emissions Certificate scheme in place shows how our engagement with TfL
has produced results. We already see savings to industry of over £10
million and we are expecting to see that figure at least double over the
coming months.
‘One FTA member, operating a fleet of
refuse vehicles, found itself facing a huge bill for upgrading 19 of
their heavy vehicles. Working with FTA and an abatement equipment
installer, the final outcome has been the upgrading of five trucks and
the issuing of Low Emissions Certificates for the other 14 – a saving of
£70,000 from initial estimates.
‘I cannot stress enough the importance
of checking the Eligible Engines List to see if upgrades are really
needed. The list is available through FTA’s website www.fta.co.uk/lez where members
can also access the FTA LEZ compliance guide.’
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