London’s new Ultra Low Emission Zone: “There has never been a better time for business to make the switch to electric vehicles” | Climate Group Skip to main content

London’s new Ultra Low Emission Zone: “There has never been a better time for business to make the switch to electric vehicles”

7 April 2019, 14:32 UTC 2 min read

  • International not-for-profit The Climate Group welcomes the introduction of the world’s first Ultra Low Emissions Zone in London today
  • Big business has the opportunity to play significant role in cleaning up air pollution and can future proof operations by making the switch to electric
  • The Climate Group has secured the electrification of more than 2 million vehicles by 2030
  • Even more businesses challenged to drive the switch

London (8 April 2019): Today’s introduction of the world’s first Ultra Low Emissions Zone in London is a leading example of supportive policy that will rapidly speed up the switch to electric vehicles, says The Climate Group, the international non-profit dedicated to accelerating climate action.

Helen Clarkson, CEO, The Climate Group, said:

“There has never been a better time for businesses to make the switch to electric vehicles. 

“With countries pledging to end sales of the internal combustion engine and cities bringing in low or zero emission zones, the business case for EVs is getting ever stronger.

“Through our global initiative on electric transport EV100, more and more companies are making the switch worldwide, helping to tackle climate change and air pollution while avoiding new charges in city centres.

“London is demonstrating great leadership by introducing the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone. This is exactly the kind of bold policy measure we need to tackle inner city air pollution and drive down carbon emissions. Congratulations to the Mayor – we hope other major cities are inspired to follow suit.”

To date, The Climate Group has secured the electrification of more than 2 million vehicles by 2030, saving over 6.6 million metric tons CO2e – equivalent to the carbon footprint of 1.9 million UK households.

The initiative now brings together 35 leading companies with a combined revenue of over half a trillion US dollars, including Ingka Group (formerly IKEA Group), Unilever and BT Group.

Over 95% of EV100 members surveyed cite reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a ‘very significant’ or ‘significant’ driver for switching, and 80% cite the need to tackle air pollution. A third identify financial savings as an incentive. 

Ingka Group (formerly IKEA Group) is future-proofing its operations by switching to EVs. Due to future limits on vehicle emissions in Amsterdam’s city centre, from 2025 it would lose direct access through deliveries to more than 390,000 households and US$30.2 million turnover per year. The retailer has committed to 100% zero-emission last-mile deliveries in five major cities by 2020 – and recently reached this goal in Shanghai one year early.

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