Ultra-low emission vehicles
The decarbonisation of transport is a key component of the Government’s Net Zero Strategy and requires changes in the way we travel and the infrastructure we use to do so.
One part of this is the shift to using ultra-low emission vehicles. These contribute to a reduction in C02 and other harmful emissions at the point of use and can help improve air quality in our towns and villages.
Almost all major car manufacturers are now producing electric vehicles and the choice of vehicle on the market is increasing. This follows the UK’s ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 and a requirement that all new cars and vans will be zero emission at the tailpipe by 2035.
These deadlines will help to improve air quality across the UK, however the future needs to be balanced, with a shift in the way that we travel. This will include increasing active travel and public transport use to reduce congestion and to provide the required infrastructure for increased walking and cycling.
Types of ultra-low emission vehicles
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV)
A vehicle powered only by electricity, containing one or more electric motors and batteries which need to be charged at regular intervals. These vehicles do not produce any tailpipe emissions and so are compliant in areas with congestion charges, as well as having a zero rate of vehicle tax and the inclusion of fewer mechanical components than a conventional vehicle which often results in lower servicing and maintenance costs. Charging a vehicle can be considerably cheaper than filling a vehicle up with fuel, and most electric vehicles have a range of 100-300 miles on a single charge.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
A vehicle powered by both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor with chargeable batteries. These vehicles can be driven using the conventional engine, the electric motor, or both, and can be recharged from an external power source. Typically, PHEVs will have a pure-electric range of up to 50 miles and allow the ability to travel emission-free on more regular, shorter journeys, and with an internal combustion engine on longer journeys. These types of vehicle are only efficient if they are charged regularly, otherwise they can be more expensive to run than a conventional petrol or diesel vehicle due to their additional weight and potential servicing and maintenance costs.
Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
A vehicle powered mainly by a conventional internal combustion engine but with an electric motor to assist during acceleration. All energy for the battery is gained through regenerative braking, which recoups energy that would usually be lost as heat through the brake pads and discs. Regular hybrids cannot plug into the grid to recharge and their benefit to the wider aim of reducing tailpipe emissions is limited.
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV)
A vehicle powered by an electric motor and a hydrogen fuel cell. These alternative fuel vehicles use a high-power fuel cell that converts hydrogen into electrical energy, water and heat, meaning the only tailpipe emissions are water vapour and warm air and will provide a range of around 300 miles. They contain a battery for temporary energy storage and are refuelled at the pump with hydrogen in a few minutes, however the refuelling infrastructure in the UK is currently very limited. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is often seen as a more suitable solution to battery electric for buses, lorries and HGVs and is becoming an increasingly important area of the automotive industry.
Low emission vehicles in Central Bedfordshire
Central Bedfordshire Council are promoting the uptake of low emission vehicles as part of a national move to decarbonise transport and to achieve our aims of providing reliable and equal charging infrastructure, reducing emissions and improving air quality. These are set out in our Sustainability Plan and in line with our Electric Vehicle Charge Point Plan, we will work with partners to deliver electric vehicle charging infrastructure across our towns, villages and main transport routes.
Charging in Central Bedfordshire
For information on existing charge points and hydrogen stations in Central Bedfordshire and nationwide, visit Zap-Map.
Additional provision of charge points will be delivered in line with the Council’s Electric Vehicle Chare Point Plan.
Assistance Available
The Government offers several grant schemes to promote the use of ultra-low emission vehicles, including:
· Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS)
· Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS)
The EVHS provides grant funding of up to 75% towards the cost of installing electric vehicle charge points at domestic properties across the UK.
The WCS is a voucher-based scheme that provides support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of charge points for businesses, charities and public sector organisations.