Navigating Low Emission Zones Throughout the UK and Beyond

In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and encourage drivers to use newer, less polluting electric vehicles (EVs), Low Emission Zones (LEZ) (or Clean Air Zones) are being introduced by governments across the United Kingdom and the European Union. This initiative is a major step toward achieving European cities’ net-zero emissions goals, but adapting to it may present challenges for commercial fleets, including higher short-term operational costs, replacement or modification of vehicles and impacts on profit margins.

This has had a major effect on courier, express, and parcel businesses that deliver in and around cities, especially larger fleets that cannot easily upgrade petrol and diesel vehicles. But the process of evaluating, onboarding and optimizing new vehicles and solutions presents an important opportunity for businesses to move their sustainability strategy forward while staying relevant and competitive in the market. 

In the piece below, we’ll examine the reasons behind the LEZ expansion, what fleets can do to prepare and how Trimble can help you along the way.

The Impact of Low Emission Zones

Much has been said about the damaging effects of air pollution caused by petrol cars more than 18 years old or diesel cars more than nine years old, with evidence now pointing to the fact that the fumes produced by these vehicles can have a long-lasting and damaging effect on human’s health. Plus, a growing online shopping culture and consumer demand for fast delivery have also increased the number of cars and commercial vehicles on the road contributing to emissions. 

As a result, local governments have started to take steps to mitigate the effects this pollution has on people living in towns and cities where heavy traffic occurs. From 2018, 8 LEZs were introduced, then 3 more expansions in 2023, with the number continuing to grow in the UK. In fact, there are now over 320 low-emission zones in Europe, not to mention the other zones operating around the world.

Drivers operating vehicles within LEZs are expected to use vehicles that adhere to the GHG emissions standards. Those who do not are subject to numerous fines for LEZ violations, even as they wait for LEZ-compliant vehicles that have been slow in coming to market due to a global shortage of microchips in 2023.

“Since it’s impossible for businesses to swap out all vehicles in a fleet at once to meet the new lower emission standards, businesses are forced to slowly phase out older petrol and diesel vehicles and will be liable for daily £12.50 low-emission charges,” said Rishi Mehra, sector vice president of Trimble’s commercial mapping and routing technology, in a recent piece for Van Fleet World. With profit margins already razor-thin due to high costs associated with inner city transportation, especially in final mile delivery, a £12.50 fine can have a major impact.

How Trimble Can Help

While the most effective way to adapt is by upgrading vehicles, for fleets unable to do so at this time, there are still ways businesses can effectively plan daily operations and avoid these fines. First among them is to embrace technology-based solutions that help fleets maintain operational efficiency while reducing costs.

Solutions like Trimble CoPilot, our commercial navigation application, and Appian, our back office route planning and optimization software, can help businesses generate routes and navigate around LEZs, easing the transition as new zones pop up and as the government's push towards net-zero goals. 

These solutions take into account factors like vehicle specifications, vehicle emissions, delivery requirements, detour distance and even traffic conditions. These solutions prioritize reliability by ensuring that every calculated route is optimized according to the specified vehicle type, guaranteeing driver safety, efficiency and, most importantly legal compliance, making this an essential tool for drivers looking to work in and around LEZs compliant cities such as London, Brussels and Paris. 

Additionally, Trimble's route planning capabilities extend to tracking emissions, allowing companies to monitor their environmental impact and make data-driven decisions to reduce their carbon footprint. Cost calculations provide detailed insights into fuel consumption and operational expenses, facilitating more efficient budgeting and resource allocation. Post-trip analysis further enhances these benefits by comparing the planned route with the actual trip taken, identifying areas for improvement in both emissions reduction and cost efficiency.

“Smart mapping technology offers drivers precise routes at the start of their journey, helping minimize unnecessary detours and reducing both time spent on the road and fuel consumption. This precision allows transportation businesses to plan more effectively, optimize routes, save money on fuel, and minimize the impact of incurring zone charges,” said Mehra.

To further mitigate challenges on the road, our Trip Management software provides invaluable visibility into the location and status of each vehicle with real-time tracking and monitoring. This enables proactive intervention in the event of deviations or unplanned stops, with alerts generated based on predefined thresholds. These alerts, delivered through visual or auditory means to drivers or notifications to fleet managers, allow the business to rectify any out-of-route deviations and optimize asset utilization.

Going Forward 

While LEZ expansions continue to reshape how businesses and drivers do their work, solutions like Trimble’s can significantly mitigate the impact. “Businesses must be proactive and harness the power of advanced mapping technologies to mitigate the impact of increased charges and route complexities,” remarked Mehra.

Some challenges will persist, including global supply chain disruptions and navigating temporary closures, like the recent M25 restrictions in and around London, but embracing innovative solutions can empower businesses to adapt, minimize costs, and ensure compliance with evolving regulations. By leveraging technology and staying informed, commercial drivers can navigate Low low-emission zones more effectively, preserving both their bottom line and the respective governments' efforts toward cleaner air and sustainability.

Contact our team to learn how Trimble can help your fleet navigate LEZs, optimize operations and meet your sustainability goals.