Skip to main content

New freight air quality initiative to reduce harmful emissions in London

The LoCITY programme has taken its first steps to improve air quality in London by publishing data to help increase the availability and uptake of low emission vans and lorries, following its initial four months’ research. The research demonstrates that to reduce freight’s impact on London’s air quality the use of low emission commercial vehicles must be increased. It has also revealed some of the key barriers that are holding back the use of low emission vehicles. One area highlighted is a lack of info
May 26, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The LoCITY programme has taken its first steps to improve air quality in London by publishing data to help increase the availability and uptake of low emission vans and lorries, following its initial four months’ research.

The research demonstrates that to reduce freight’s impact on London’s air quality the use of low emission commercial vehicles must be increased. It has also revealed some of the key barriers that are holding back the use of low emission vehicles. One area highlighted is a lack of information about the capabilities, benefits and requirements of ULEVs. Without this information operators can find it hard to justify the purchase of low emission vehicles. A lack of impartial information on alternative fuels and infrastructure has been identified as a further problem. LoCITY aims to become the trusted source of advice and guidance for fleet operators to make informed purchasing decisions on low emission vehicles.

LoCITY is an industry-led programme helping the freight and fleet industry reduce its impact on air quality by increasing the use of ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs). 1466 Transport for London (TfL) is part funding and monitoring LoCITY to ensure it is a success. More than 600 organisations from across the commercial vehicle industry, government and academia are already working together on the programme to make the widespread use of low emission commercial vehicles a reality.
 
LoCITY aims to create new environmental operating standards and contractual clauses which will help anyone buying goods or services to specify the use of low emission vehicles.

It will also investigate, through research and trials, the impact of cleaner vehicles on business operations, to bust myths and give confidence to operators who may be considering adding low emission vehicles to their fleets.  
 
According to Mike Brown MVO, London's Transport Commissioner the industry has an important role to play in saving lives by improving our air quality, and over the next five years LoCITY will play an important role in helping increase the take up of low emission commercial vehicles.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Cities’ quandary over air quality
    October 20, 2014
    Transportation professionals have always made the safety of drivers, other road users and pedestrians their top priority with congestion and other considerations further down the wish list. Now, however, it is not enough to prevent motorists, cyclists and pedestrians being injured in traffic accidents as it appears transport professionals’ responsibilities must go much wider – to the public in general. The OECD has calculated that road traffic related air pollution kills more than three million people per y
  • London buses to trial safety technology
    March 31, 2014
    London buses will carry out a groundbreaking trial of optical and radar-based detection software this summer, helping to further reduce the number of collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists in London. The trials are part of Transport for London’s (TfL) draft Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, and will build on research previously carried out by TfL on detection equipment and will look to test the effectiveness of the technology for reducing collisions with cyclists and pedestrians.
  • Pilot for 50 mph limit for HGVs on A9
    December 6, 2013
    Scottish transport minister Keith Brown has announced plans for a 50 mph heavy goods vehicle (HGV) pilot to be introduced at the same time as average speed cameras on Scotland’s A9 road. The trial, which aims to improve the safety and operational performance the route, will go ahead next year alongside a safe driving campaign run by the haulage industry and the A9 Safety Group. In advance of the pilot, the Road Haulage Association will step up their efforts to ensure lorry drivers adhere to safe drivi
  • ULEZ: is it the best way to tackle air quality?
    August 31, 2023
    Issues of equity and economics need to considered in London's ultra-clean air zone expansion