LOcityGISTICS

The UK's Department for Transport has opened a consultation on the opportunities available to deliver goods more sustainably and make the last mile greener. In a statement issued yesterday (30 July), the DfT said that it was calling for evidence to explore how clean vehicles such as electrically powered e-vans, micro vehicles and e-cargo bikes can "provide better service to customers for cargo in comparison to light commercial vehicles". The DfT would like to hear evidence of how innovative logistics solutions such as cargo consolidation centres, shared hubs and micro-depots could help to alleviate the pressures on urban last mile deliveries. Importantly, the DfT is inviting suggestions on how the delivery industry could be incentivised to take up clean, last-mile delivery options - and it also wants to have a better understanding of the perceived barriers to switching over to a sustainable delivery model. In his foreword to the discussion document, ...

A new report has found that earning a living as a Deliveroo rider in the UK "works well for some individuals and very poorly for others". The report - published yesterday (24 July) by Frank Field, the MP who chairs the Parliamentary Work and Pensions Committee - found that: "Some Deliveroo riders earn as little as £2 or £3 an hour. Others, in even more extreme circumstances, earn nothing at all at certain times while those at the other end of the scale sometimes reach £20 an hour." In a statement posted on his website, Field also claimed that: "Across the online food delivery sector of the ‘gig economy’ as a whole, around 158,000 individuals report being paid less than the National Living Wage." Essentially, said Field, Deliveroo - and other gig economy companies - have to "strike a more just balance between flexibility and security". The report's key recommendations include the conclusion that: "Workers who prize flexibility...

London's new "Vision Zero" action plan for reducing traffic-related injuries will see a new 20 miles per hour (mph) speed limit introduced on all Transport for London (TfL) roads within the Congestion Charging Zone. In a statement issued today (24 July), the office of London's Major Sadiq Khan said that the Vision Zero approach "starts from the premise that no death or serious injury on London’s roads is acceptable or inevitable". In order to get closer to a full Vision Zero ambition, the Mayor has set TfL some interim targets. According to today's statement: "By 2022, the aim is to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on London’s roads by 65% with no-one being killed on or by a bus by 2030, on the road to Vision Zero in 2041." The new speed limit proposals will play a key role in achieving these targets. According to the statement from the Mayor's office: "TfL is now proposing to make 20mph the new gene...

A new report published yesterday (23 July) by the UK-based innovation foundation Nesta has argued that making "urgent medical deliveries from hospital to hospital" could be one of the most useful and important tasks that drones could perform in UK cities. The report , "Flying High: Shaping the Future of Drones in UK Cities", examined how drones are being used in five UK city-regions: traffic incident response in the West Midlands construction and regeneration in Preston supporting the fire and rescue service in Bradford. and medical delivery in both London and also the Southampton-Isle of Wight region The medical delivery application was a particularly interesting from one. And we have also seen pilot projects in other countries which have shown that drones can perform this task admirably. The postal operator Swiss Post, for example, has used drones to transport lab samples between medical centres in Zurich, Lugano and Berne. The Nesta r...

The bidding has opened today (23 July) for the management of the UK Government’s £400m Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund. According to the Treasury Department, the fund will enable businesses to access the finances they need to build more charging points - which in turn will make it more viable for drivers to switch to electric vehicles. The bidding process follows the launch of the Road to Zero Strategy which sets out the UK government’s plan to have at least half of new cars be ultra-low emission by 2030 and all new cars and vans be effectively zero emissions by 2040. In a statement issued today, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Robert Jenrick, said: “We want the UK to be a world leader when it comes to the number of electric cars on our roads. Uptake is increasing and we want the opportunity to own an electric vehicle to be available to all. “But crucial to encouraging the take-up of these cars across the country is increasing people’s access to charging p...

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a consultation today (20 July) on whether and how it should introduce E10 fuel to the UK market. In a statement published today, DfT explained that E10 contains more bioethanol than traditional petrol, so it would help reduce carbon emissions from petrol vehicles, helping the UK meet its climate change targets. Transport Minister Jesse Norman said: "This government is ambitiously seeking to reduce the UK’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and cut carbon emissions from transport. But drivers of older vehicles should not be hit hard in the pocket as a result. "We have launched this consultation in order to understand the impact of E10 on the UK market better, and to ensure that drivers are protected if any changes come into effect." The DfT said that the changes to the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) announced earlier this year require transport fuel suppliers to increase the amount of renewable f...

Allianz is now offering third-party liability and comprehensive insurance for electric vehicles from Deutsche Post DHL's subsidiary StreetScooter. In a statement issued yesterday (20 July), Deutsche Post DHL said: "The insurance is provided under the Ford Autoversicherung brand and available at selected Ford dealers throughout Germany that sell StreetScooter vehicles. "The insurance is designed to include the modern safety components found in StreetScooter vehicles, as well as their cost-effective repair. "The offer supports StreetScooter's Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach, which provides a low total cost of e-mobility so small and medium-sized enterprises can switch to this environmentally friendly drive technology. An expansion into other markets with further insurance and service solutions is planned." Achim Kampker, CEO of StreetScooter, said: "Allianz is a strong partner who will help us breakthrough with e-mobility into various ...

The Automated and Electric Vehicles Act passed through the UK Parliament yesterday (19 July). According to a statement issued by the Department for Transport (DfT): "The AEV Act will see a massive improvement in electric chargepoint availability; giving the government new powers to ensure motorway services are upgraded with plenty of points, and even allowing mayors to request installations at large fuel retailers in their areas." Specifically, the new laws will aim to make sure that public chargepoints are compatible with all vehicles and standardize the payment methods. The Roads Minister Jesse Norman said: "The UK is becoming a world leader in the roll-out of low-emission transport. Today we have passed a significant milestone in that journey. "The increasing automation of our cars is transforming the way we drive, and the government is steadily updating our laws in order to prepare for the future. "This act will ensure that the UK’s infrastru...

Electrically-powered vehicles still account for a very small proportion of the Netherlands delivery fleet, according to a new report from the transport research institute Kennisinstituut voor Mobiliteitsbeleid (KiM). In a statement issued last Thursday (12 July), KiM said that around 876,000 delivery vans are currently in operation in the Netherlands - of which just 0.3% are electric. The report suggested that delivery companies need to see more positive role models to be encouraged to make the electric switch. They also need more information about the life-time costs of electric vehicles. KiM found that a sticking point for many companies is the electric van's relatively short range between charges - which is typically about 170km. However, KiM said that although the electric van's range is shorter than that of its diesel counterpart, it would still be sufficient for most delivery vehicles being used for urban deliveries. Click here  for a link to downlo...

IVECO has announced that its stand at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018 will be a "100% diesel free" low emission area. In a statement issued last week, IVECO said it "will showcase its full offering of alternative traction vehicles, available on the market today... [which can] match the requirements of every mission, from passenger transport to long-distance haulage." Exhibiting in collaboration with Shell, IVECO will also hold a roundtable on "The Energy Transformation towards a Sustainable Future". Pierre Lahutte, IVECO Brand President, commented: “The pressure on Diesel is mounting: public opinion has turned against it. EU institutions and national governments are introducing policies and subsidies to support the conversion of fleets to environmentally friendly technologies. At IAA, with its Diesel Free stand illustrating a Low Emission Area, IVECO, in collaboration with SHELL, will demonstrate that its Electric, CNG and LNG full offering...

A coalition of UK road transport associations have argued that Clean Air Zones (CAZ) are "unfairly targeting hauliers" and that "pricing trucks off the road is not the way to reduce emissions". The Road Haulage Association (RHA), British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association (BVRLA), Freight Transport Association (FTA) and National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) met with the UK's Transport Minister Jesse Norman and Environment Minister Therese Coffey yesterday morning (11 July) to discuss their own joint six-point plan for Clean Air Zones. Called "The Way Forward", the associations' plan calls for consistent CAZ operating standards, smarter use of road space, and a phased approach supporting the transition to cleaner vehicles that doesn't put operators out of business. In a statement issued yesterday, RHA chief executive, Richard Burnett said: “We welcome Government’s commitment to improve air quality but local authorities p...

The UK government has launched its Road to Zero strategy - and affirmed its ambition that at least half of new cars should be ultra low emission by 2030. In a statement issued yesterday (9 July), the Department for Transport (DfT) said: "The government has confirmed its ambition to see at least half of new cars to be ultra low emission by 2030 as part of plans to make the UK the best place in the world to build and own an electric vehicle. "The proposals are outlined in the Road to Zero Strategy , which sets out plans to enable a massive expansion of green infrastructure across the country, reduce emissions from the vehicles already on the UK’s roads, and drive the uptake of zero emission cars, vans and trucks. "Together, the measures will put the UK at the forefront of a global revolution in motoring and help to deliver cleaner air, a better environment and a strong clean economy."

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has given its support for the UK government's short-term target of reducing carbon emissions from heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) by 15%. The 15% target was announced yesterday (9 July) in the government's Road to Zero report. The target will judge tailpipe emissions in 2025 against a 2015 baseline. Commenting on the target, FTA's Head of UK Policy Christopher Snelling said: "All sectors of society need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions if we are to avoid the worst effects of climate change. HGVs and their operators have to play their part in this and significant steps have already been made by the industry to change its behaviours and impact on the environment. "However, we think this target is challenging, given that, in reality, there are only seven years left to achieve it, but if the right things are done it can be delivered. "The logistics sector will continue to work to make every efficiency in load...

Mercedes-Benz Vans has extended its range of emission-busting vehicles, with the new battery-electric eVito and the fuel cell-powered Concept Sprinter F-CELL. In a statement issued today (2 July), Mercedes-Benz Vans said: "The new eVito is at home primarily in urban delivery traffic. However, its range and load capacity also meet the demands of tradespeople and service technicians. An installed battery capacity of 41 kWh delivers a range of around 150 kilometres. Even when conditions are unfavourable, the customer still has a range of 100 kilometres. The full range is restored after six hours of charging." Interestingly, the van maker also used today's announcement to sketch out some details of electric vehicle pilot projects that it is running with the parcel delivery company Hermes and Amazon Logistics. According to Mercedes-Benz Vans: "Cooperation partner Hermes Germany is putting 1500 Mercedes-Benz electric vans into service. The integration of an eff...