The BVRLA has launched a new web guide, designed to provide useful information for fleets and individuals on current and forthcoming Clean Air Zones (CAZs).

The BVRLA’s CAZ guide – located at www.cleanairzones.co.uk – outlines where charging CAZs are coming, how they work, and what support there is for fleets

Published ahead of the launch of Birmingham’s charging Clean Air Zone from 1 June, the guide – located at www.cleanairzones.co.uk – outlines where charging CAZs are coming, how they work, what administrative support is available for business fleets and what options are available if people need to upgrade their car, van or truck.

While Birmingham’s CAZ will not ban vehicles, it will levy a charge on all older and more polluting ones (pre-Euro 6 (VI) diesel and pre-Euro 4 petrol) to enter. This includes cars and studies have suggested that around 60% of the 200,000 vehicles that enter the city centre each day could be affected.

Birmingham’s ‘Class D’ scheme received approval in late 2020 to go live next summer and follows the launch in March of the Bath CAZ; the two are the first charging Clean Air Zones outside London’s ULEZ scheme.

However, zones are also imminent in Bristol, Bradford, Portsmouth, Greater Manchester, Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside.

Meanwhile London’s existing Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will be extended to an area 18 times larger than the original Low Emission Zone by 25 October 2021.

As such, the BVRLA is reminding road users to assess the impact on their journeys and explore options for upgrading non-compliant vehicles.

BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney said: “Our rental and leasing members are a good option for someone who regularly travels through a Clean Air Zone. They have a huge variety of CAZ-compliant vehicles that are available on a flexible and fixed-cost basis.

“They are already helping tens of thousands of businesses and individuals make the leap to fully zero-emission motoring and can provide electric vehicles and charging solutions to meet every need.”

To access the BVRLA’s CAZ guide, click here.