MICROMOBILITY
We’ve seen this done with electric cars, but thus far light electric vehicles have not seen the same levels of incentives, despite their outsized impact on emissions reduction. Greater investment into the research and development of alternative vehicles, as well as relevant infrastructure such as bike lanes, bike storage spaces and charging points for e-bikes will also help make individuals and businesses more inclined to naturally switch to greener vehicles. With the cost-of-living crisis already forcing people
away from private modes of travel, the Government must look to seize this momentum. It is also not just about the movement of people, commercial vehicles are responsible for one third of all transport emissions in the UK. As demand for instant delivery grows across the
SEIZE THE MOMENTUM
Lisa Conibear, global commercial director at Zoomo, explains the role e-bikes can play in decarbonisation
T
he world is warming faster than at any point in human history, something we experienced first-hand this summer, with Government action
required as soon as possible. To reduce greenhouse gases, transport needs to be firm on the agenda when it comes to introducing new legislation. Not only does it account for a substantial percentage of our yearly emissions, but when you compare the challenge of creating a low-emission transport network to the task of decarbonising the UK’s power infrastructure, it is an easier shift to make. There are several ways the Government can make transport more sustainable. Incentivising people to switch from gas-guzzling vehicles towards low-emission vehicles such as electric bikes is an obvious place to start. This can be done through rebates, subsidies, bike loan-schemes, and general awareness raising.
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UK, the Government must also look at how it can help businesses and the entire delivery and logistics sectors utilise alternative vehicles to vans and mopeds. Again, improving infrastructure will help, but the Government must work closely with business leaders to increase awareness of the dangers of commercial petrol vehicles for the environment, as well as the advantages of alternatives such as e-bikes.
Role of e-bikes E-bikes will play a vital role in decarbonising the transport sector and moving cities closer to net zero. The carbon emissions from an e-bike compared to traditional vehicles such as vans or cars are substantially lower, with research indicating that businesses have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 75% by switching deliveries from vans to e-bikes. On a larger scale, every light goods vehicle (LGV) replaced by a pedal or e-bike in central London saves over one tonne of CO2 and almost three kilograms of NOx per year, which is the equivalent to a damage cost saving of £270 per year per vehicle. This is enormous, and if the Government is serious about decarbonisation, we need to remove LGVs from our roads and replace them with cycle freight as quickly as possible. Not only do e-bikes produce less emissions, but they are also more efficient on the roads, allowing couriers and businesses to record shorter emission-saving journeys. Zoomo research found that e-bikes can, on average, complete 30% more deliveries every day than any other vehicle, proving how efficient e-bikes are. The Government says investment in active travel is one of the best returns on investment it can make and has set
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