Electric fleet plan helps City of London Corporation win prestigious award

The City of London Corporation has won a prestigious prize in recognition of its work on green and safe transport initiatives.

It has been awarded the Electric Consolidation prize at the Institute of Courier Awards, which showcases organisations in the transport and logistics industry who are working to improve air quality.

The City Corporation won the award for ‘transforming’ its fleet in readiness for the Ultra-Low Emission Zone, which will be in place in central London from April 8, 2019.

Judges praised the City Corporation for working with business to tackle emissions from deliveries and freight, as well as rolling out electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The City Corporation is implementing a no-diesel strategy for all its new vehicles – and judges said the organisation was helping to bring the concept of “no diesel” to a wider audience.

Jeremy Simons, chairman of the City of London Corporation’s environment committee, said: “Tackling air quality is a key priority for the City of London Corporation.

“We are dedicated to improving the health of all Londoners working, living and visiting the Square Mile.

“This award is a result of the hard work of our staff who are devising and implementing such effective policies and delivering them on the ground.”

The drive for cleaner fleets is part of the City Corporation’s fightback against air pollution.

Following a feasibility study, the organisation will launch a consultation on a pilot scheme limiting access to ultra-low emission vehicles at the southern end of Moor Lane, near Moorgate.

The authority’s planning and transportation committee will tomorrow (October 30) consider proposals to turn parts of the Square Mile into zero-emissions zones by 2022 and cut the speed limit to 15mph as part of its new Transport Strategy.  

It has already banned the purchase of diesel vehicles from its own fleet of 300 vehicles, where there is a clean market alternative.

The City Corporation is also leading a London-wide crackdown on drivers who leave their engines idling - and its new procurement rules have brought in tight restrictions on emissions from bulldozers and generators.

This year, the City Corporation launched a clean air cargo bike delivery scheme helping City firms tackle toxic air pollution by shifting deliveries from diesel and petrol vans to cargo bicycles.

Its CityAir app provides more than 27,000 Londoners with low pollution travel routes across the capital, with advice and alerts when air pollution is high.

And in 2016 it agreed a deal with Addison Lee - London’s biggest private hire taxi firm - to automatically switch hybrid taxis to ‘electric mode’ in key areas of the Square Mile.

In August this year the City Corporation announced new emissions-based charges for on-street parking in the Square Mile, targeting high polluting transport with higher charges while rewarding drivers of low emission vehicles with lower tariffs.