Coventry fleet summit addresses air quality issue

The BVRLA and colleagues from the fleet sector met with officials in Coventry last week to discuss future mobility and air quality plans.

This follows a request from government for the city to take action to address illegally high levels of air pollution.

The BVRLA, Energy Saving Trust and Coventry City Council jointly hosted the meeting, with BVRLA members, fleet operators, local businesses and council representatives in attendance.

Coventry city council councillor, Jim O’Boyle, said: “Our position is that a charging zone is not needed in Coventry.

“Roads in the city where there are air quality concerns can be resolved without charging.

“Coventry’s approach has been, and remains to achieve compliance through a combination of road improvements, traffic management, travel planning and promotion of electric vehicles and new technology.”

Its city council has also been asked to consider introducing a charging Clean Air Zone (CAZ) but is keen to explore other options, which do not involve charging.

The local authority has been exploring electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure measures, and the city has been chosen as the region for the UK’s first Mobility Credits pilot.

A controlled trial will involve credits that are loaded on to a travel card and smartphone app to spend on alternative travel including public transport, car sharing or green hire schemes.

This event concluded a busy week for the BVRLA, after it has also been involved in the Government’s Road to Zero activity.

The BVRLA has taken part in meetings with JAQU to discuss a national CAZ portal and had meetings with HM Treasury and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles.