The Safety First Organisation in partnership with Thurrock and Basildon College
EMISSION NOTES FOR THE PRESENTATION MADE AT CASTLE POINT BOROUGH COUNCIL ON MONDAY 19 JANUARY 2009.
Background.
Castle Point Borough Council has in place and applied the principle of sustainability in everything we do in the Borough. These objectives can be read in their Air Quality action Plan.
Part of that policy is to reduce emissions targets agreed by Central Government as set out in the UK Climate Change programme.
Overall, the objectives target a reduction of 500 tonnes annually through the declared action plans between 2007 and 2010 and the means of applying those targets for the Road Passenger Transport through a restructured Road Vehicle Tax, were presented in the chamber.
The current situation.
The European Union legislation proposes a reduction of CO2 emissions of new passenger cars to 120 grams per kilometre (g/km) by 2012. The current average emissions is around 160 grams per kilometre.
This strategy forms the cornerstone of delivery of the Kyoto Protocol on reduction of greenhouse gases.
It requires operators of licensed vehicles to modify their vehicles to meet existing and future EU directives. The emissions targets are contained in Directive 70/220/EC.
Many councils are not expected to achieve these targets when they become mandatory in 2010.
A Road Passenger Transport Action plan.
Councils may require operators to reduce their carbon emissions by specific dates by:
• Purchasing new vehicles.
• Modifying existing vehicles.
• Encouraging the use of alternative fuels.
Emissions standards timescales.
The 1993 Exhaust emissions limits introduced (Euro 1) in 1993 for new cars included systems development including Catalytic converters etc.
The Euro 4 target covering all new cars (except those above 2500 kgs, or with more than six seat applied from 1997. From September 2009,
Euro 5 starts in September 2009 and applies to all new cars with light commercial and
special needs cars. Euro 6 starts from 2014.
The current benchmark is Euro 4 (whilst most Councils are still reacting to Euro 3).
All Public Carriage Office (London) required all licensed vehicles to be of Euro 3 standard or better by 30 June 2008.
Emissions standards premiums.
An excess emissions premium will be based on the number of grams per kilometre (g/km) that an ‘average’ vehicle sold by a manufacturer is above the 120 g/km curve.
The proposal is that 20 Euros per g/km for the first year of 2012 gradually rising to 35 Euros in 2013, 60 Euros in 2014 and 95 Euros in 2015.
Band CO2 emissions g/km 12 month rate 6 month rate
A Up to 100 g/km. Not applicable Not applicable
B From 101 to 120 g/km. £35 Not applicable
C From 121 to 150 g/km. £120 £66
D From 151 to 165 g/km. £145 £79.75
E From 166 to 185 g/km. £170 £93.50
F Over 185 g/km. £210 £115.50
G Over 225 g/km.
Cars registered after 23 February 2006 £400 £220
The Vehicle Tax changes applied these principles from 1 March 2008 with new tax bandings being:
A way forward.
In order to document and achieve declared targets, Council Officers together with the trade representatives such as this forum are in a position to produce a plan that arguably could be the first in the country to have such discussions and agreed outcomes.
Some of the considerations could be:
The agreed age of licensed vehicles (Manufactures are required to produce emission standards to meet the agreed timescales but of course this is relative to the choice of vehicle.
It could be that in order to determine an agreed standard, an annual licensed mileage be agreed, linked also to an agreed number of licensed vehicles.
For example, if the discussions agreed a maximum number of vehicles that would be licensed for the next five years (taking the 2010 to 2015 algorithm) that would determine a formula for agreeing licensed mileage.
Thus number of cars x mileage = annual licensed kilometres per annum. (this may look something like (say) 400 licensed vehicles x (say) 45,000 kms. per annum = 18 million kms. per annum). (say 28,000 miles pa).
Factoring that figure of 18m g/km at the average of 40 g/km above the benchmark could produce a (paper) total of 72 tonnes in 2010 as a starting point. Thus producing a measure to plan following annual agreements and thereby quantified or measured tonnes reduction which is an unknown factor currently.
This could assist the trade by having an agreed limitation on the number of licensed vehicles for five years, or could enable councils to reduce licensing costs for vehicles whose emissions standards fall within lower categories. That could also produce flexibility in numbers if more vehicles met lower emissions standards.
Richard Robinson and Norman Bambridge
Safety First Organisation.
January 2009
