With just over a month to go before the London Ultra-Low Emissions Zone comes into force, CPT is advising operators to use the TfL ULEZ checker to confirm their vehicles will be recognised and avoid any Penalty Charge Notices. Int points out that the default position is that all vehicles are deemed non-compliant, unless proved otherwise.

TfL claims to have worked with manufacturers in order to record the details of the vast majority of Euro VI coaches on its enforcement database. This exercise was completed in January but is still believed to only account for around 90 per cent of coaches, so owners of compliant vehicles may be assuming they won’t be charged when in reality their vehicles aren’t yet recognised as such by TfL. This would ultimately attract a penalty.

By using the TfL checker, owners can verify that the vehicle is recognised; is shown to be compliant and if not, there is a facility to make an enquiry challenging the status and providing evidence proving that it is. A copy of both the Certificate of Conformity and the V5 would cover this; these can be scanned or photographed and uploaded to the site.

Operators intending to bring non-Euro VI coaches to central London after 8 April are reminded that they will be subject to the ULEZ charge of £100 per day.

The charge can be paid in a number of ways, by calling 0343 222 2222 or on-line via the link below. CPT recommends that vehicles which will visit London regularly are linked to an auto-pay account, this will automatically charge a designated payment source (credit card or bank account) and avoid the need to make separate payments for each visit.

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/check-your-vehicle

… and £1million for coach retrofit testing

The government has announced funding to help bring accredited retrofit solutions for coaches and buses to the market. This will cover a proportion of the test and accreditation cost and should increase the number available.

Currently, there is only one coach model which has an accredited retrofit solution available (the Eminox system for the Volvo B9R) although CPT understands that others are now close to approval, or in progress. The funding amounts to almost £1million and provides support to three vehicle retrofit technology suppliers to accredit technologies for cutting emissions from 17 additional coach types along with 12 trucks, one taxi and one refuse collection vehicle, as well as seven more bus engines.