New website to help fleets prepare for Birmingham CAZ

Birmingham City Council has launched a website with information to help businesses understand the city's Clean Air Zone (CAZ), which will be launched next year.

Called Business Breathes, the site is for fleet managers and self-employed drivers that need to prepare for the introduction of CAZ in January 2020.

Visitors can find information on low-emission vehicles that will comply with the CAZ requirements, grants and incentives that will be available if their business needs to upgrade their vehicles to avoid the charges, as well as recharging and refuelling points.

Business Breathes also has features, such as a postcode checker to see if a business or location is within the CAZ zone and a ready reckoner to demonstrate how much money a low-emission option - such as an electric, gas or hydrogen vehicle - could save companies compared to a petrol or diesel model that does not comply with CAZ requirements.

This website has been launched as part of Brum Breathes, Birmingham City Council’s air quality campaign to reduce emissions of harmful pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter that cause poor air quality and associated health problems and it aims to encourage businesses to move over to cleaner vehicles.

Councillor Waseem Zaffar, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council, said: “The Clean Air Zone will represent a significant change in terms of the way people travel around the city, so it is important that those who rely on the use of vehicles for their business are able to make the necessary preparations and access the relevant support ahead of its implementation in January 2020.

“The Business Breathes website provides a valuable one-stop shop for fleet managers and self-employed drivers to access the information they need to make the switch to greener, cleaner transport options, ensuring Birmingham stays open for business while also helping the city achieve cleaner air for those who live and work here.”