How can you take action to reduce pollution if you cannot identify where it is coming from? Reducing pollution requires real-world data on vehicle emissions performance, argues Ben Fielden from EMSOL.
When we talk about air pollution from transport, it is crucial to separate the impact of the different pollutants. Pollutants that present a risk to health, such as NO2, PM2.5, PM10 and ultrafine particles, are different from gases like CO2, which directly impact global warming.
One of the main contributors to transport pollution is the heavy-load and non-stop logistics required to keep supply chains running. EMSOL researched with King’s College London to understand how sustainability influences consumers’ choices on delivery. Almost 65% of people said cleaner air would greatly influence their choice of delivery providers, showing a strong consumer preference for low-pollution delivery options, which has clear implications for businesses such as retailers as they look to decrease their Scope 3 emissions.
The challenge
Businesses and fleet operators are increasingly aware of this. However, without the data or readily available resources, taking action is not always easy. If fleet operators lack data on real-world vehicle performance, it is harder to prioritise investments. How can you really know you are reducing pollution if you cannot identify where it is coming from?
Many companies have invested in meeting the requirements of clean air zones. However, we risk a false dichotomy between polluting diesel and clean electricity. This suggests change is not possible without a massive upfront investment in EVs and infrastructure. It also ignores the potential low pollution impact of the latest diesel vehicles when monitored for emissions performance.
Potential solutions
Sustainable vehicles for last-mile deliveries:
Cargo bikes and small electric vans are great for local urban deliveries. Bike delivery is ideal for certain items, however, bikes have limitations on load, weight and distance. Small electric vans have limitations around power, resilience, and availability, as well as a cost barrier to large-scale adoption. Plus there’s the environmental impact of batteries.
Out-of-hours delivery programmes:
Delivering during off-peak hours has the potential for reducing congestion, fuel use and emissions, but the approval process can require dispensation based on evidence of low-impact delivery. This is challenging without data, and retiming is unsuitable for certain businesses. It also moves the problem rather than reducing it. It can increase noise pollution between 21:00 and 06:00, and there’s a commercial implication as out-of-hours delivery means paying out-of-hours rates.
Limits on driving:
Some cities have introduced initiatives to limit the operation of supply chains. For example, Mexico City has ‘no drive days’ based on vehicle registration plates. However, businesses need a reliable supply chain to sell their goods. In Mexico City, for example, enterprises and logistics operators simply increased their fleet to assure coverage and the scheme resulted in a 13% increase in CO levels.
Low emissions zones:
There are around 250 low emissions zones across Europe. They are typically enforced either through increasing costs on the driver or outright bans. Most have seen decreases in NOX and CO2 emissions. However, 31% of large businesses say they struggle to meet city emissions levels, not least because restrictions are based on certified standards and not real-world emissions. This can mean drivers are penalised based on the age of their vehicle rather than its performance.
What else?
Despite these initiatives, progress is slow. However, many problems can be solved if fleets have access to real-world, real-time data that identify pollution problems. EMSOL can provide targeted data on the specific source of pollution, giving operators actionable insights.
EMSOL is working with organisations such as John Lewis, CEVA Logistics, HS2, NHS, and the City of London Corporation to reduce air pollution. We can provide fleet operators with the evidence to pinpoint vehicles that may need maintenance if they persistently correlate with high pollution, providing an alternative to exhaust pipe monitoring systems.
As an example, EMSOL partnered with Hanson, a supplier of ready-mixed concrete, to deliver environmental evidence on the company’s sustainability and its investment in upgrading to Euro VI vehicles. During a project at the Marshall Building in London, EMSOL was able to prove that the majority of Hanson’s vehicles were not a significant contributor to on-site pollution.
Andrew Dixon, regional transport manager for Hanson, said: ‘Proving the beneficial impact of our Euro VI fleet conversion has been great. If we can see breaches happening when other contractors’ fleets are on site, it proves our case.’
Originally posted in the FVI magazine
