Agenda item

Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Strategy

[Report of the Director for Housing and Growth. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Environment.]

 

The Council committed to developing this as part of the adopted Haringey Transport Strategy.  This document will set the vision and action plan for enabling Haringey's vehicles to move towards ultra low emission engines.    Agreement is sought to consult on the draft Strategy and Action Plan.

Minutes:

 The Cabinet Member for Environment introduced this report, highlighting that poor air quality and pollution affected us all, and approximately 50% of all pollution came from transport. This draft action plan explored how the Council would enable and encourage residents to move towards Ultra Low Emission Vehicles which would reduce the main source of pollution in the borough. In 2017, it was estimated that there were 225 electronic vehicles in Haringey, by 2020, Transport for London estimated this would rise to 1,000.

 

This action plan aimed to ensure that the Council raised public awareness of ultra low emission zones and charging technology through campaigns and education. The plan sought to create accessible vehicle charging points throughout the borough so that it could operate a fully lower emissions zone vehicle fleet by 2030. Work was being done with partners to ensure all commercial fleets that operated within the borough also had low emissions and were electric by 2040. The Cabinet Member informed the aspiration was for Haringey to be the leader in carbon friendly and cost efficient charging systems, which would benefit the environment and generations to come. 

 

Cllr Barnes sought a commitment from the Cabinet Member that, of the proposed 150-500 electronic charging points across the borough by 2020, none would be installed on pavements. The Cabinet Member responded there were two types of electronic charging points. The larger was not practical for pavements but would be included in car parks. The smaller charging point was practical for pavements, would be no larger than street lamps, and positioned on the edge of pavements.

 

The Cabinet Member would provide a written response to Cllr Barnes on how much the Council was planning on spending between now and the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Strategy. With regard to increasing public awareness through campaigns and education, a written response would also be provided on how many vehicles within the Council fleet were currently ultra low emission, compared to how many that were not. 

 

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    To approve the Draft Action Plan;

2.    To agree that the Draft Action Plan be published for public consultation; and

3.    Following public consultation, to give delegated authority to the Director of Housing, Regeneration and Planning to sign off the Final Action Plan, which will be amended based on public consultation.

 

 

Reasons for decision

 

By developing an Action Plan, the borough can have a co-ordinated approach to future proofing the borough ahead of a growth in electric vehicles. In light of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone expanding to inner London in 2021, residents and businesses with the most polluting vehicles will incur a daily charge. The Council needs to steer the transition to ultra-low emission vehicles to be ahead of technology developments and regional/national policy developments on air pollution and climate change.

 

The Draft Action Plan sets out the following objectives:

 

a)    Increase public awareness of ultra-low emission vehicles and charging technology through campaigns and education

As ultra-low emission vehicles are not yet widespread, there are many questions and doubt surrounding the switch to electric vehicles. Campaigns and events, amongst other communicative mediums, are an important way to directly engage with potential users and to help alleviate any concerns they may have. Utilising the extensive research into attitudes and behaviours surrounding electric vehicle adoption can aid how we target potential users to alleviate barriers.

b)    For the Council fleets to lead by example and have an all ultra-low emission fleet by 2030

It is imperative that the Council takes action with their own fleets and seeks to phase out the use of traditional combustion vehicles where possible. This aligns with the emerging Air Quality Action Plan 2019-2023. This shows the residents and businesses in the borough that the Council also take responsibility for emissions and will tackle them head on. Electric cars have a significantly lower running cost than traditional combustion vehicles and therefore, electrifying the Council fleet would induce cost savings to the Council in the long term.

c)    To collaborate with partners to ensure all commercial fleets operating in the borough are ultra-low emission vehicles by 2040

Tackling private-car use and the Council fleet alone is insufficient to achieve a significant decrease in transport-related emissions and the shift in private car use should filter into other aspects of the borough’s transport. Therefore, working with a wide range of partners (e.g. bus operators, local businesses and small- and medium-sized enterprises, service stations, taxis and private-hire vehicles, car clubs and canal boats) allows us to realise emissions benefits in all sectors of road transport, as well as including our waterways.

d)    To develop an electric vehicle charging network in line with expected demand over the next 10 years

Transport for London have predicted the number of electric vehicle registrations for all London boroughs. These scenarios cover expected levels of demand in 2020 and 2025, with both a baseline scenario and high uptake scenario. In the ‘2020 high uptake’ scenario, all wards will have at least 25 electric vehicles, with some wards having at least 50, and others with at least 75. We expect there to be 3 number of users per on-street charging point, and therefore most wards require at least 8 number of charging points, with some wards needing 16 and others requiring 25.

e)    To be a leader in innovation for carbon-friendly and cost-efficient charging technology

We want the borough to be a test-bed for new and upcoming charging technologies which lead to carbon-friendly modes of transport, as well as to keep charging cost-efficient to users.

 

In order to test and refine the Action Plan, and promote its ‘ownership’ in the wider Haringey Community, it is proposed that the Draft Action Plan be published for a period of public consultation. Following that consultation, it is proposed that the Director of Housing, Regeneration and Planning be given delegated authority to approve the Final Action Plan which will be amended on the basis of public consultation.

 

Alternative options considered

 

Do nothing

The Action Plan would not be developed and published. This is not an option as the overarching Haringey’s Transport Strategy (2018-2028) has committed the Council to deliver a sustainable transport action plan with the Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle Action Plan directly supporting Outcome 3 of the Transport Strategy. This would compromise the reputation of the Council. Furthermore, under ‘do nothing’, the Council would:

  1. have no coherent strategy to navigate the shift to electric vehicles, causing Haringey to fall behind regional and UK progress
  2. not have a plan to support the national government and regional government programmes to deliver ultra-low emission vehicles
  3. not a planned approach to mitigate the negative impacts of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone on residents and businesses
  4. miss an opportunity to generate income from charging infrastructure

 

Propose an Action Plan of narrower scope and ambition

An Action Plan of this nature is not common to local Councils. To pursue this narrower, less ambitious approach would risk reducing Haringey’s ability to drive ultra-low emission vehicle uptake and mitigate transport-related emissions. Some Councils have an ‘Electric Vehicle Charging Point Delivery Plan’ however, Haringey’s Draft Action Plan goes into greater detail and encompasses a wider scope (e.g. electrifying the private sector, incorporating vehicles on our waterways, public education and awareness of electric vehicles, and set timeframes within which we want to achieve our objectives).

 

Not consult on the Draft Action Plan

A lack of public consultation would mean local views are neglected in development of this plan, especially when it is an issue that will affect all residents and business (e.g. the introduction of an Ultra-Low Emission Zone).

 

Supporting documents: