The Royal Air Force has used a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with normal jet fuel on routine operations for the first time.

Aircraft including Typhoon and Poseidon submarine hunters, operating from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, have been using a blend of conventional and SAF in an apparent first for the air force.

During November 2023 to February 2024 four million litres of blended SAF were delivered to the Royal Air Force through a contract with World Fuel Services. A further five million one hundred and fifty thousand litres of fuel are being delivered over the period July to October 2024.

The fuel is used to power aircraft operating from Lossiemouth in Morayshire, northern Scotland. RAF Lossiemouth is one of the UK’s busiest RAF stations and is home to Typhoon aircraft who are ready to deploy 24/7, 365 as part of the UK’s Quick Reaction Alert – keeping Britain secure.

Sustainable fuel sources include hydrogenated fats and oils, wood waste, alcohols, sugars, household waste, biomass and algae.

Aviation currently accounts for nearly two thirds of fuel used across defence.

In 2020, the MoD updated aviation fuel standards to allow up to 50% sustainable sources to be used in fuel mixes for defence aircraft. The RAF has been trialling different types of fuel since then. In November 2021, an RAF pilot flew a microlight aircraft powered by synthetic fuel created from air and water, described as a world-first. In Spring 2022, a drone was flown on synthetic kerosene made by genetically modified bacteria. The RAF has also tested an electric aircraft flown at RAF Cranwell.

In November 2022, an RAF Voyager trialled the use of 100% SAF, flying for 90-minutes from RAF Brize Norton, said to be a world first for a wide-bodied military aircraft, a joint endeavour between the RAF, DE&S and industry partners Airbus, AirTanker and Rolls-Royce, with the fuel supplied by Air bp.

In 2023, the Royal Air Force used SAF to achieve the first SAF blend air-to-air refuelling of a Typhoon and C-130 Hercules aircraft. This was followed by the RAF’s display typhoon being powered on blended SAF at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo, the first time this aircraft has displayed to the public on this fuel.

New data seem to show that only two percent of polluting vans scrapped under the ULEZ scrappage scheme have so far been switched to electric vehicles despite Transport for London (TfL) committing over £100 million in funding to businesses.

TfL reported that of the 16,207 approved applications to scrap a petrol or diesel van between January 2023 to May 2024, only 372 were replaced with an electric vehicle.

The figures were revealed in new analysis from campaign group Clean Cities on 26 June, and during London Climate Action Week as Defra was forecasting the first summer smog of the year in London and southeast England.

In 2023, the Mayor of London launched a ULEZ scrappage scheme to provide financial assistance to help Londoners and businesses scrap the highest polluting vehicles to prepare for the expansion of the ULEZ across all London boroughs.

The scheme provides grant payments to scrap, donate or retrofit vehicles that do not meet the emissions standards and switch to cleaner modes of transport.

Analysis published this week by Transport & Environment, Europe’s leading clean transport group, shows the number of vans on UK roads has increased by over a million since 2014.

The campaigners’ analysis shows carbon emissions from vans in the UK have risen 63 percent since 1990, threatening climate targets despite the growing push for electric vehicle (EV) adoption. Carbon emissions from private cars and taxis have decreased by 19 percent over the same period.

The majority of new van sales are diesel, accounting for 90 percent of all new van sales in 2023.

In contrast diesel cars registered on UK roads have fallen by 13 percent between the end of 2018 and the end of 2023 but diesel vans rose about 13 in that same period

This is reflected in harmful nitrous oxide emission levels in the UK. With emissions from HGVs and cars falling by 91 percent and 88 percent respectively since 1990 but vans have only managed a fall of 38 percent.

Recent polling, commissioned by Clean Cities, has revealed 67 percent of Londoners believe small businesses still need more support to help them switch to electric vehicles.

The survey of 4,000 UK adults also finds that three-in-five (59%) Londoners want their councils to take stronger action against air pollution and protect the environment. Nearly half (46%) also believe delivery vehicles have a negative impact on their local roads.

Campaigning for policy change, Clean Cities is launching Clean Cargo Capital, a campaign focused on accelerating the uptake of electric or pedal powered commercial vehicles in London.

The campaign is calling on Mayor Sadiq Khan to improve incentives for businesses to switch to electric vehicles, such as reviewing and reprioritising the ULEZ scrappage fund and extending the Congestion Charge Cleaner Vehicle Discount for SMEs, ride-hailing, and car-sharing services until late 2027.

The discount is set to be discontinued at the end of 2025, meaning it will cost businesses the same to drive a diesel or electric vehicle in central London, despite electric van sales lagging and diesel being one of the largest contributors to air pollution in this area.

Oliver Lord, UK Head of Clean Cities, said, “The Mayor’s van scrappage scheme is a leading endeavour but something isn’t right if only two percent of businesses in London have ditched diesel and switched to electric instead. Londoners rightly expect businesses to step up and play their part in cleaning the air and protecting the environment but more support is needed to make cleaner electric vans a viable option.

Our polling shows a majority of Londoners believe small businesses should have more support to help them switch to electric vehicles, so it’s puzzling that the Mayor is set to remove the Congestion Charge discount next year.

A newly elected Mayor and a new government offers a unique opportunity to double down and deliver the regulatory certainty, incentives and infrastructure that businesses need so that electric vans become the norm and not a nice to have.”

Ralph Palmer, UK Electric Vehicle and Fleets Officer at Transport and Environment, said: “The continued rise in van emissions in the UK is alarming. Despite the push for more electric vans on our roads, we are still witnessing a surge in greenhouse gas emissions from vans as a result of sustained sales of diesel vans, countering trends we are seeing in the car market.

It’s clear that more action is needed to boost electric van demand among fleets to ensure we achieve the triple-win of tackling emissions, reducing running costs for small businesses and boosting energy security. The new Government should bring forward plans for stronger financial support and action to improve the nation’s charging infrastructure for van drivers to ensure the UK doesn’t continue to fall behind other European countries.”

Green technology firm SulNOx Group describes a trial of one of its diesel conditioner products.

Fuel consumption savings of up to 7.59% have been verified in a three-month series of trials with trucks owned by UK contractors MGL Demolition, part of MGL Group, using the product SulNOxEco Diesel Conditioner. The trial has been followed by MGL Demolition’s purchase of an Intermediate Bulk Container (approximately 1,000 litres capacity) of SulNOxEco through master distributor A&S International (A&S).

The company’s evaluation ran from Monday 6 February 2023 to Friday 28 April 2023, and used four Scania tipper trucks – two new and two older vehicles. MGL Demolition has provided pre-trial baseline fuel consumption data for the trucks. In the trial, the SulNOxEco Diesel Conditioner was added to the trucks at the end of each day using a small measuring container, with the amount depending on how much diesel had been used to top-up the engines (typically approximately 200 litres). Using the recommended 1:2,000 mix ratio, if 150 litres of diesel was added then 75ml of SulNOxEco Diesel Conditioner was also added to the fuel tank.

Fuel usage data was provided via telemetry at the end of February, March and April, and the trial reviewed any fuel savings. The results showed a pattern of savings in line with other SulNOx clients: smaller savings after the first month, rising to approximately 8% during month 3. The fuel savings were recorded as follows:

February 2023 4.37% improvement in fuel consumption
March 2023 5.26%
April 2023 7.59%

Average 5.74%

MGL Demolition’s haulage fleet consumes 80,000 litres of fuel per month. An annual consumption of 960,000 litres of diesel would only require 480 litres of SulNOxEco. An average fuel reduction of 5.74% for the business would equate to 62,400 fewer litres of diesel being consumed per annum. A fleet of 40 trucks would enjoy a net saving of £173,000 per annum, representing a 900% Return on Investment (ROI). Further maintenance savings may be available owing to typically reduced AdBlue consumption, fewer sensor replacements and a lower incidence of filter problems, together totalling an additional 1-2% of savings.

Ben Richardson, CEO of SulNOx, said operators of truck fleets “are running as hard as possible to cut costs while minimising their environmental impact as they strive towards a zero-carbon future. SulNOx is happy to be part of the solution in balancing both these challenges.”

Angus Macdonald, Managing Director of A&S said: “MGL Demolition’s evaluation results are compelling. We are very pleased to have ordered our first SulNOx stock for MGL and look forward to working closely with SulNOx to identify further benefit for our clients, not only in the UK but globally.”

Paul Hutchinson, Sustainability & Compliance Director of MGL Group, said: “We were very impressed by the potential for both savings and environmental gains from using SulNOxEco in our diesel vehicles. The ease and speed of using the product makes this an exciting development in how we manage our fleet as efficiently as possible.”

Sales fell nearly 40% over the past four years with other regions only managing a decline of 20%, reported campaign group Transport & Environment, “demonstrating that the ULEZ not only has positive air pollution impacts, but also positive energy security and trade deficit impacts”.

The analysis draws on the latest statistics from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
In 2019, London introduced the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) which charges older, more polluting cars a fee to enter the city. Euro 6 diesel cars, or those produced in 2015 and prior, and Euro 4 petrol cars, or those produced 2006 or prior, have to pay £12.50 each day they enter.

The decline in the sale of diesel fuel has apparently had a marked impact on air pollution. A new map of London and the changes in NO2 levels on its roads between 2021 and 2022 shows marked improvements across the board.

T&E said the data also demonstrates that air pollution measures are having a positive impact on energy security. “The UK is a net importer of diesel, meaning money is flowing out of the country in order to bring the fuel in. As we saw with the energy crisis, the UK has no control over the global wholesale price of fossil fuels, including diesel, and if problems were to arise with diesel supply the country could be vulnerable to price spikes and shortage of supply.”

“London then, and its ULEZ, are positively contributing to the UK’s energy security – incredibly, in 2024 Londoners are on course to pay £273 million less in diesel costs than they paid in 2022.

Replicating the trend elsewhere
“By replicating low emissions zones in cities throughout the country, we could further secure the UK’s energy. Sheffield, Liverpool, and Greater Manchester all have nitrous oxide emissions that are beyond legal limits. Introducing clean air zone measures in these areas could not only have a positive impact on residents’ health, but would also enhance the UK’s energy security.

“Transport & Environment UK sees no reason why other regions across the UK could not introduce clean air measures and, at a national level, that rules specifically targeted at reducing diesel use need to be considered. This includes banning the sale of new diesel cars before the current 2035 date, implementing a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate on HGVs to chart their pathway to only allowing the sale of zero-emission trucks, and changing the tax system so consumers are more likely to choose other types of vehicles over diesel vehicles in the near future. At the very least clean air zones need to be recognised as not only beneficial to people’s health, but also making a marked, positive difference to UK energy and trade dynamics.”

Sustainable shipping fuels could reach cost parity with fossil fuels as early as 2035 with the help of decisive emissions policy such as carbon taxes and emissions limits, according to a report launched by technology firm Wärtsilä on 21 March.

The report, titled ‘Sustainable fuels for shipping by 2050 – the 3 key elements of success’, appears to reveal that the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and FuelEU Maritime Initiative (FEUM)ⁱ will see the cost of fossil fuels more than double by 2030.ⁱⁱ By 2035, they will close the price gap between fossil fuels and sustainable fuels for the very first time.ⁱⁱⁱ Transporting 80% of world trade, shipping is the engine room of the global economy. However, despite being the most efficient and environmental way to transport goods, it emits 2% of global emissions, equivalent to the annual emissions of Japan. Without action, this could increase by more than 45% by 2050.^iv

In 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) set a target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Existing decarbonisation solutions, such as fuel efficiency measures, could cut up to 27% of emissions.^v Wärtsilä’s report argues that sustainable fuels will be a critical step in eliminating the remaining 73% but radical action is needed to scale them. The industry suffers from a “chicken and egg” challenge – ship owners won’t commit to a fuel today that is expensive, only produced in small quantities, and may be usurped by another fuel that scales faster and more affordably. Meanwhile, it is difficult for suppliers to scale production without clear demand signals.

Wärtsilä says it has produced new modelling that shows a timeline of which fuels are likely to become widely available on a global scale, when and at what cost. To accelerate this timeline, the report argues that decisive policy implementation, industry collaboration, and individual operator action must coalesce to scale the production of these fuels.

Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä Marine & Executive Vice President at Wärtsilä Corporation says: “Achieving net zero in shipping by 2050 will require all the tools in the toolbox, including sustainable fuels. As an industry, we must focus on coordinating action across policymakers, industry and individual operators to bring about the broad system change required to quickly and affordably produce a mix of sustainable fuels. Policy in Europe is showing just how impactful action at the international level can be, closing the cost gap between fossil- and low-carbon fuels for the first time.”

Decisive policy required…
Wärtsilä’s modelling appears to show sustainable fuels will be 3-5 times more expensive than today’s fossil fuels in 2030. As ETS and FEUM show, policy is key to closing the price gap. The report argues that policymakers should:

• Maximise certainty: Set an internationally agreed science-based pathway for phasing out fossil fuels from the marine sector, in line with IMO targets.
• Boost cost competitiveness: Adopt a global industry standard for marine fuel carbon pricing.
• Collaborate: Increase global collaboration between governments on the innovation and infrastructure necessary to deliver sustainable fuels at scale worldwide.

… and industry collaboration wouldn’t go amiss either
The sector must collaborate with stakeholders from inside and outside shipping. The report calls on industry to:
• Pool buying power: Initiate sector-wide procurement agreements to pool demand from multiple shipping operators.
• Collaborate with other sectors: Convene with leaders in aviation, heavy transport, and industry to establish a globally recognised framework for the production and allocation of sustainable fuels.
• Share skills: Establish an industry-wide knowledge hub for the purpose of sharing expertise, skills and insights.

Individual action recommended
Every euro an operator saves in fuel costs at today’s prices, could be worth 3-5 times that by 2030. That means companies such as Carnival Corporation, which made a 5-10% efficiency gain through its Service Power Upgrade Program, could cut its fleetwide fuel costs by as much as $750 million per year in 2030.^vi All operators can benefit from improving the efficiency of their vessels – the technology is readily available today.

Holm adds: “If there is one takeaway from our report, it is that smaller operators need not feel powerless. They have a major role in accelerating towards net-zero emissions shipping. Taking steps to improve fuel efficiency and invest in fuel flexibility can deliver immediate returns, reducing both emissions and operating costs. But action must be swift – we have the lifecycle of just a single vessel to get this right.”

Investing in fuel flexibility is the most financially viable way to avoid the risk of stranded assets, concludes the document. Wärtsilä says it has been developing multiple fuel options. Most recently, Wärtsilä launched the first commercially available 4-stroke engine for ammonia fuel, which the firm claims can immediately reduce emissions by over 70%, compared to diesel.

The report offers a roadmap for the future of sustainable fuels, identifying how the industry can more rapidly and affordably scale these fuels and achieve full decarbonisation by mid-century – within the lifetime of just a single vessel. You can access and download the report here.

Notes
[1] EU ETS and FEUM come into effect from 1st January 2024 and 2025 respectively.
[ii] See figure 1 in report.
[iii] Applicable to fleets operating in Europe only. All sustainable fuels modelled in the new report by Wärtsilä (Liquified Natural Gas, Methanol, Ammonia, compressed Hydrogen, and Marine Battery Packs) have the potential to be more affordable than Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (the industry’s dominant fossil fuel) by 2035 when EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime are factored in. Only Liquid Hydrogen remains more expensive, ranging from 1.2-1.5x the cost of Low Sulphur Fuel Oil.
See figure 2 in report.
[iv] https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/Environment/Pages/Fourth-IMO-Greenhouse-Gas-Study-2020.aspx
[v] https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/OurWork/Environment/Documents/FFT%20Project/Preliminary%20outputs%20for%20the%20study.pdf
[vi] Carnival Corporation Upgrading Global Fleet with Fuel- and Energy-Saving Technology (annual fleetwide fuel costs savings estimated to be $150m due to efficiency measures. 5 times this figure in 2030 would be $750m

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)* is today (21 March) releasing an updated guidance for land vehicles, including a new method for automakers to set 1.5°C emissions reduction targets.

For the first time, this updated guidance aligns automakers’ largest source of emissions – scope 3 category 11 ‘use phase’ i.e. those from driving vehicles – with 1.5°C, and includes a pledge to work towards the phase out of petrol and diesel for cars and vans by 2035 in leading markets including Europe, Asia Pacific, USA, Canada, UK, South Korea and Japan.

“As a major emitter of greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, automakers hold a pivotal role in driving the transformation to a net-zero economy and cleaning up the air in our cities,” said Alberto Carrillo Pineda, Chief Technical Officer and Co-Founder of the SBTi. “To address the climate crisis, it is critical that automakers adopt zero-emission vehicles at a pace consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The updated SBTi Land Transport Guidance reflects the scientific imperative for this critical transformation.”

Automakers are key to global mobility systems and the economy, but are also a major contributor of greenhouse gasses. Private cars and vans were responsible for more than 25% of global oil use and around 10% of global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2022. Diesel and petrol vehicles are also a major source of harmful air pollutants in cities worldwide – an estimated 4.2 million premature deaths were caused by air pollution in 2019 alone.

The new requirements for automakers included in the updated SBTi Land Transport Guidance provide revised criteria to set 1.5°C scope 3 targets for the ‘use phase’ of sold vehicles, covering the emissions of vehicles after they are sold.

Now, when setting science-based targets, automakers should also commit to the international Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) Declaration and pledge to work towards the phase out of new Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars and vans by 2035 in leading markets, and globally by 2040, or earlier as per local regulations.

“Automakers who commit to the ZEV Declaration and set science-based targets catalyze a transformative shift in the global market, creating a competitive environment that fosters clean and innovative technology,” said Tim Dallmann, Secretariat of the Accelerating to Zero Coalition’s Steering Committee, which runs the ZEV Declaration, and International Partnerships Program Director at the International Council on Clean Transportation. “Signatories join a global community of stakeholders who are collectively working towards an emission-free transportation sector, keeping the goals of the Paris Agreement alive.”

The development of the new criteria for automakers included a public consultation process. The updated Land Transport Guidance is an interim step towards an SBTi standard for automakers. It includes a rationale for the 1.5°C target-setting method for automakers and a summary of the criteria for other land transport activities already covered in the guidance that remain unchanged.

Developing a new automotive standard
The revised criteria for automakers is a minor update to the SBTi Transport Guidance released in 2018, intended to harmonize existing sector-specific guidance with the SBTi’s current criteria.

As a next step and as part of SBTi’s transformation to strengthen its standard-setting processes, the initiative will evolve the Land Transport Guidance into an Automotive Standard.

To develop the new Automotive Standard, the SBTi will soon open a call for applications for representatives to join a new Expert Advisory Group. Stakeholders will also be invited to comment on drafts of the Automotive Standard in public consultations later in the year.

Maintaining compliance
Automakers with commitments that expire up to six months from the release of the updated Land Transport Guidance must submit targets within those six months. Companies in this sector that have set targets thus far will remain compliant, but are encouraged to recalculate them to increase ambition.

With the publication of the updated Land Transport Guidance and new criteria for automakers, the SBTi is lifting the temporary pause on the validation of targets from automakers. The pause was implemented because of the lack of a pathway to align scope 3 category 11 emissions with 1.5°C, which has now been resolved. These emissions represent the largest share of automakers’ emissions.

All validated targets using the updated Land Transport Guidance will remain valid after the publication of the Automotive Standard and be subject to the usual five-year review cycle.

*an international organization with a brief to enable “ambitious climate action from the private sector”

Two Volvo Truck & Bus dealers say they have found an innovative solution to overcome one of the biggest barriers the UK faces with the shift to zero emission transport.

Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland planned to install high-powered charge points at two of its service workshops for battery-powered HGVs and buses. However, they found that neither site had a high enough import capacity from the grid to power the chargers.

The transition to all-electric trucks requires charge points that can be up to 50 times more powerful than fast chargers for cars. This places a much bigger strain on energy supplies than car charging – with many organisations lacking the available electricity capacity to install the charging they require.

Connected Energy, a global leader in second-life battery energy storage systems, worked with each site to install their innovative 300kW E-STOR system. The systems will provide enough power to ensure both facilities can run high-capacity charging points – 350kW and five 22kW electric car chargers for courtesy cars and vans for Enfield, while at Carlisle E-STOR will support a 150kW truck charge point and two 22kW electric car chargers for courtesy cars and vans.

Christian Coolsaet, Managing Director at Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, said: “As a market leader in electric trucks, it is important that we can provide high-powered charging at our key locations within our dealer network to support our customers whilst maintaining their electric trucks and buses. However, we are faced with grid capacity constraints at almost all our sites which is impacting our infrastructure plans.

“By installing Connected Energy’s battery energy storage systems, we can bring additional power onto the sites which helps us to move forward with the installation of high-powered charge points.

“The systems also support our wider net zero strategy to decarbonise our own workshop operations which includes investments in air source heat pumps, PV solar panels, energy efficient smart lighting systems and transitioning our service and parts van and courtesy car fleets to electric. London North will become one of our flagship carbon-neutral sites, generating its own power from a solar array with excess generation stored within the battery energy storage systems.”

E-STOR acts like an energy reservoir, storing power from the grid or on-site renewables during periods of low demand, and then releasing it during peak periods. In this way, it can help electric truck depots and service centres to offer high-capacity EV charging without worrying about grid connection constraints.

More than just batteries in a box, E-STOR has a sophisticated intelligent management system which means it can be programmed to respond to the energy demands on site. It can integrate with on-site solar arrays and is doing so at the Enfield site. Because E-STOR uses second-life batteries from former EVs, it offers significant carbon savings compared to an energy storage system that uses new batteries. This aligns with Volvo’s drive to adopt circular economy business principles, particularly relating to the reuse of batteries.

Matthew Lumsden, CEO of Connected Energy, said: “Truck depots and service centres were not designed with EV charging in mind, so many of them are facing capacity issues as they look to extend their range into larger vehicles. E-STOR is often a more affordable alternative to expensive grid infrastructure upgrades – or in some cases the only option.

“We have seen an increase in enquiries as bus and truck operators begin to understand the lack of capacity on their sites and start to look for solutions to grid constraints.”

The two high-powered charge points were installed at Volvo Truck and Bus North & Scotland in Carlisle and Volvo Truck & Bus Centre London North, in Enfield.

Pilots of electric planes can charge their aircraft with one tap of a card, says EV charging expert Octopus Energy, following a tie-up between the firm and AeroVolt.

Octopus Electroverse – an award-winning electric vehicle (EV) charging platform – will sync with AeroVolt, the first ever aircraft charging network.

Through this partnership, pilots of electric planes will get access to Electroverse’s easy charging experience at AeroVolt’s airside chargers around the country.

The innovation is the next step in Octopus’ plans to rapidly accelerate the adoption of electric transport.

It comes as studies have shown that electric planes – typically small two-seater planes that do short flights – have a lower climate impact compared to their fossil fuel powered peers.

AeroVolt has charge points installed at seven sites in the UK, including at Bournemouth, Lydd, Dunkeswell, and Shoreham airports, with 12 more to come online soon. The disruptor is already in talks with nearly 70 more airports looking to have chargers installed.

Electroverse – the biggest EV roaming service in the country – has revolutionised on-the-go charging for drivers of electric cars, removing the need for multiple apps to access different charge point brands through its ‘one card, one app’ model.

Pilots who are also Octopus customers enjoy the added benefit of syncing up their public charging costs onto their existing home energy bill, in one simple payment.

This move is the next step in Octopus Energy’s activities to help speed up the transition to green transport. Its Octopus Electric Vehicles division is now the UK’s largest EV-only leasing business and the company is a pioneer in smart tariffs for EVs.

It manages 1GW of shiftable load through its Intelligent Octopus Go tariff, using the company’s cutting-edge tech platform Kraken to charge EVs when it’s cheapest and greenest. Earlier this month the company launched the UK’s first mass market vehicle-to-grid tariff – Octopus Power Pack – enabling free home charging for drivers.

Zoisa North-Bond, Octopus Energy for Business CEO, said: “Octopus is at the forefront of the transition to green transport. It’s incredible to think our skies are cleaner with each new electric plane, and we’re thrilled to make the journey easier for pilots, extending our seamless charging experience for electric cars to electric aircrafts. With just a tap of their Electroverse card, pilots can plug in and power up. This is the start of an exciting transition as we’re set to supercharge the take-off of e-mobility.”

Guy Haydon, Chief Commercial Officer at AeroVolt, said: “As the world’s first aircraft charging network, AeroVolt is on a mission to transform the future of flight with our simple and easy to use network of rapid chargers across prime airfield locations. This exciting partnership with Octopus will both bring AeroVolt’s car chargers into the Electroverse and deliver a market leading aircraft charging experience to electric pilots. True interoperability, charging both your wheels and your wings.”

Published on 20 February in Nature Climate Change, the study appeared to find that exported used vehicles generate at least 13-53% more emissions per mile than those that are scrapped or on the road in Great Britain. The researchers used mandatory annual vehicle inspections – the MOT tests familiar to all in the UK – of all 65 million used vehicles on British roads between 2005 and 2021 to compare the pollution and emissions intensity of vehicles exported to those scrapped, destroyed, or driven in the UK.

The data seemed to reveal substantially higher rates of carbon dioxide and pollution generation in exported vehicles. Amongst the seven million vehicles legally exported from Great Britain, exported used cars generated at least 13% more carbon dioxide per kilometre than scrapped cars, and 17% more than used vehicles on British roads. Exported vehicles were also 3.3 miles per gallon worse on fuel efficiency than those sent to the scrapyard.

Lead author Dr Saul Newman, Research Associate at the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science and Demographic Science Unit at Oxford Population Health said ‘Our study reveals that the UK, a leading global exporter of used vehicles with high vehicle emissions standards inside its own borders, offshores vehicle emissions to lower-income countries who are already suffering the most from climate change.’

Over half of all vehicle exports to low and middle-income countries originate from the EU and UK, with virtually all remaining trade coming from Japan and the United States. Whilst these countries maintain high emission standards domestically, almost all countries that receive their vehicle exports have no emission standards of their own.

Significantly higher nitrogen oxide rates – an air pollutant that causes millions of deaths each year and can be effectively avoided when emission standards are enforced – were emitted per kilometre from exported than scrapped cars. It was striking that almost all exported diesel cars (98%) failed the European Union’s EURO-6 diesel emissions standards for nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide, and most (83%) were predicted to fail the carbon dioxide standards. The study also highlights the issues surrounding the manipulation of emissions testing data which adds to the challenges of measuring emissions.

Dr Saul Newman said ‘This study shows that we have been exporting dirtier cars than those we send to the scrapyard. This presents an enormous opportunity to clean up emissions in lower-income countries, simply by applying our own domestic emission standards to vehicles sent offshore.’

The study calls for the UK’s world-leading vehicle emissions standards to be applied to all exported vehicles which would see cleaner instead of dirtier vehicles sent to lower-income countries. Such measures would reduce economic burdens of vehicle ownership as cleaner vehicles require lower ongoing maintenance and fuel costs, and align with increasing cleaner air and climate action calls.

Professor Melinda Mills, Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science and Demographic Science Unit concludes ‘This study uses existing government data in a novel way to uncover considerable offshoring of vehicle emissions to low- and middle-income countries. The findings are striking and call for an evaluation of existing policies and practices around car pollution and exported vehicles.’

Haringey Council and Veolia are introducing three new electric sweeper barrows as well as an electric caged tipper vehicle to the streets of Wood Green, part of further steps being taken to keep the area clean and green.

Following resident engagement, which highlighted the importance of cleaner streets, this new street cleansing equipment will play a vital role in delivering a cleaner borough for the local community, said the council.

Over the past 18 months, council officers have been trialling various equipment which can be used to support cleansing staff who tackle multiple challenges every day. With the aim of having cleaner high streets in the borough, the new electric barrows and caged tipper will be deployed across Wood Green shopping area.

The electric barrows will support staff by helping them to move around our streets and carry waste more efficiently. The built-in cold pressure washers will help remove any dirt or spillages on pavements.

Whilst the tipper’s primary use will be to collect sweeper bags, remove any dumped items, and support the team in emptying the new dual litter and recycling bins, the new vehicle will also clean litter bins, wash down sections of pavement and provide a rapid response to clear any larger spillages that occur.

Cllr Seema Chandwani, Cabinet Member for Resident Services & Tackling Inequality, said: “By actively engaging with our residents and businesses, we’ve noticed a strong sense of pride in Wood Green – an area which hosts one of the busiest high streets in London.

“Wood Green is a vibrant hub and is home to a wide range of shops, restaurants, a great library and popular youth centre.

“Our investment in new electronic cleansing equipment that will enhance our efforts to ensure Wood Green continues to attract thousands of shoppers and visitors each week.

“Maintaining Wood Green’s cleanliness and welcoming atmosphere is essential for local employment as well as sustaining our broader economy. In turn, this will ensure residents both near and far see Wood Green as place they want to live, shop, work and play.”

Paul Peters, Senior Contracts Manager for Veolia in Haringey said: “At Veolia, we strive not only towards an improved recycling rate but also towards a better, greener and safer future for all. We are proud to continue supporting our partner, Haringey Council, in improving the cleanliness of the borough and on their ambitious journey to achieve net-zero by 2041.”

This project is part of the councils wider initiative – Shaping Wood Green – which partially focuses on improving and developing areas in the borough, ensuring they are clean, safe and ‘make Wood Green a welcoming place.’