Flexible parking tariffs are something that many local authorities are embracing. It’s not uncommon for diesel vehicles to pay a surcharge while greener vehicles, like hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs), pay a lower tariff. The theory being, penalise the polluters and reward those who have chosen greener, cleaner vehicles. But is this simplistic approach the best option for a local authority to adopt in order to effect real environmental change for its residents? Let's start with the basics.
The basics
As cars burn fuel, they emit various gases, like CO2 - which is a greenhouse gas(GHG) - and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Cars also emit other pollutants. There are various approaches structuring parking tariffs: by fuel type, by CO2emissions and by the Euro standards. Each of these deals with the issue in slightly different ways.
Petrol vs diesel – the fuel debate
This debate is anything but clear cut. Diesel is more fuel efficient than petrol, in that you can travel further on one litre. This means that a diesel car emits less CO2per mile. For a time, the UK government advocated the purchase of diesel-powered vehicles for this reason. However, diesel emits additional pollutants - particulate matter (PM), such as soot, and NOx, which negatively impacts air quality. And so the court of public opinion swayed towards petrol vehicles; some car manufacturers have even dropped diesel models from production[1].
What is very clear, however, is that the cleanest, greenest way forward is EVs, which have zero emissions. However, there is an evolving debate around the production of EVs’ battery cells and how “green” that really is, but in terms of identifying a fuel type that is going to pollute as little as possible, EV is where it' sat.
The greenhouse gases (GHG)
Stop most people in the street and they will have some level of understanding about the so-called greenhouse gases like CO2 that are belched out of vehicles 'tailpipes. These GHG trap some of the heat that radiates from the Earth into the atmosphere; the more GHG, the more heat trapped, and the warmer the atmosphere gets – much like a greenhouse. Too many GHG and the overall temperature will increase and lead to global warming. So, reducing the amount of CO2 emissions is an important goal in the fight for the environment.
Diesel and petrol vehicles emit CO2 – there is no getting around that - so higher parking tariffs for the higher CO2 emitting vehicles is one approach some local authorities are taking.
Euro Standards
Euro Standards were introduced in 1991 with Euro 0 for commercial vehicles and in 1992 with Euro 1 for passenger cars. Progressively tighter restrictions – and additional Euro Standards – have been put in place as emissions regulations have increased[2].
Today, the Euro 6 Standard, introduced in September 2015, aims to reduce levels of harmful car and van exhaust emissions, both in petrol and diesel vehicles. All mass-produced cars sold in the European Union and European Economic Area member states from this date need to meet the emissions requirements.
Improving the local environment
Reducing GHG will help the global environmental effort and is a noble and ethical thing to do, obviously. But does that help a local resident with asthma? Unfortunately, probably not.
Air quality –an equally compelling and vital measurement and one that is very important for our local authority clients – is impacted by more than just CO2. Carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (eg THC and NMHC), NOx and PM all impact air quality. And the evidence is undeniable. During the pandemic, traffic declined by as much as 80%[3] - levels not seen since the 1950s. In the first nine weeks of the first lockdown alone in the UK, NO2 on London's roads decreased by an average of 31% compared with the pre-lockdown period.[4]Another study, published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, cited that the first lockdown led to a 42% decrease in surface-level NO2 pollution.[5] Why is this important? These pollutants are thought to cause or to exacerbate many respiratory illnesses; research has stated that NO2 is likely to be a cause of asthma in children[6].The good news is that these are the very emissions that the Euro 6 Standard regulates.
The obvious choice?
CO2emissions and fuel type have been the basis on which many flexible parking tariffs have been built. Fuel type is often considered to be the least complicated solution to implement and the easiest to explain to drivers. But by basing parking tariffs on Euro 6 Standards, local authorities are able to turn the dial on other pollutants and manifest real, measurable and substantial impact on the local air quality.
So where does PayByPhone come in? That’s the easy part.
When our local authority clients come to us wanting to be able to provide a flexible parking tariff scheme, many are unsure of what approach to take. We are able to provide a fuel-based tariff as well as a CO2based tariff structure. But working in consultation with our clients, we advocate for local environmental change to help residents and recommend a tariff structure based on the Euro Standards.
Emitless, our flexible tariff feature, encourages drivers to "emit less” and pay favourable tariffs – based on fuel type, CO2 or Euro 6 Standard. Local authorities get the flexibility they need, as well as reaping the reward of improved air quality for their local area. It really is as easy as that.
[1] https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/news/162634/porsche-drops-diesel-for-good
[2] https://www.acea.be/industry-topics/tag/category/euro-standards
[3] https://airqualitynews.com/2020/11/23/what-the-uks-first-lockdown-taught-us-about-air-quality/
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/08/covid-19-lockdowns-global-air-quality-india-london-uk
[5] https://airqualitynews.com/2020/11/13/changes-in-uk-air-quality-during-the-1st-covid-19-lockdown/
[6] U.S. EPA, 2016
