GREENFLEET
Europcar to hold ULEZ 'clinic' for SME fleet operators

Europcar Mobility Group UK is holding a ULEZ Clinic on the day London's Ultra Low Emission zone comes into force - on 8 April - at its King’s Cross branch.

Recent research revealed that over a quarter of businesses still hadn’t made ULEZ plans, and that number increased to 50% for small businesses (1-9 employees).

What's more, Europcar Mobility Group UK research revealed a real lack of knowledge from businesses when it comes to the ULEZ. Despite the significant changes being introduced in a matter of weeks, this research has shown that more than 1 in 8 (13%) small businesses aren’t sure what the requirements of the ULEZ will be. For London based businesses, only 36% said that they fully understood the impact of the ULEZ in terms of vehicle emissions.

Once introduced, petrol vans travelling within the zone must meet Euro 4 specification and diesel vans must be Euro 6 compliant. Under new regulations non-compliant vehicles will be charged £12.50 a day - that’s in addition to the usual congestion charge. For businesses travelling through the ULEZ every day, driving non-compliant vehicles could add up to over £4,500 a year, per van.  

Europcar Mobility Group UK’s experts will be offering their advice, support and solutions to businesses that are affected by the ULEZ at the King’s Cross clinic on 8 April. There will be a Renault Kangoo Electric Van on site for visitors to look at the EV options that may be viable for their business.  

Stuart Russell, Director, Commercial Vehicles, Europcar Mobility Group UK, commented: “For businesses affected by the introduction of the ULEZ, our clinic on 8th April is exactly where they need to go. Our team of experts fully understand how these changes are set to impact businesses of all sizes and what businesses can do to avoid them.

“The charges that firms may need to pay for entering the ULEZ are significant and can have a huge impact on the wheels of business. £4,500 per van has the potential to cripple many small businesses. Our Europcar services provide access to vans with the latest automotive technology. These vehicles enable businesses to not only reduce their carbon footprint but eliminate any ULEZ related charges. This is all possible without tying up capital on outright vehicle purchases or committing to a long-term lease deal.”