Walking around the nearly deserted streets of my home city Glasgow – during my once a day choice of exercise – two things struck me: how silent were the streets; and how clean the air.
I know it’s a desperate time, but it’s important to look for positivity around us.
This lack of noise – you can hear the birds in the parks, for instance – and the better quality air are really important additions to our lives as we try to make sense of the coronavirus pandemic.
And why, I thought, can’t it always be like this?
I followed the COVID-19 outbreak in China and was surprised to see such a dramatic drop in pollution levels, particularly those of nitrogen dioxide. With little or no traffic, the cessation of its coal-fired industry and few flights over the country, the effect was dramatic. A story on the BBC’s website, using NASA imaging, illustrates what a demonstrable effect coronavirus had on pollution levels across China.
Turning closer to home, engineering consultancy Ricardo has analysed some of the figures for the UK during the coronavirus pandemic which show a dramatic decrease in nitrogen oxides particularly once lockdown took place. In Glasgow the reduction was 28%; in London’s Marylebone the reduction was even greater at 39%.
Post pandemic, commerce will return with the additional pollution that entails. But do we have to accept the same? Should we accept polluted air? Air that is so contaminated that it causes lung and heart disease and premature death.
It needn’t be like that.
It shouldn’t be like that if fleets start transitioning to electric zero-emission company cars and vans.
The taxation benefits for company car drivers are brilliant: zero per cent on the company car tax rates this tax year (2020/21) followed by 1% and then 2% increases.
There’s no VED, either. And while the Plug-in Car Grant has been reduced to £3000 with an exclusion for cars over £50,000 it remains a worthwhile inducement.
For vans – subject to suitability – there’s greatly reduced running costs and a Plug-in Car Grant that’s worth up to £8000.
So use this time during the coronavirus lockdown to reconsider your fleet policy. It’s time for a pivot – to cleaner cars and vans. To greater sustainability.
And then we can all breathe more easily.
Walking around the nearly deserted streets of my home city Glasgow – during my once a day choice of exercise – two things struck me: how silent were the streets; and how clean the air. I know it’s a desperate time, but it’s important to look for positivity around us. This lack of noise – … Continued
Recent history has suggested fleets should run for their tin hats whenever the Chancellor gets up to announce a Budget. But not this, Rishi Sunak’s first as Chancellor. I was impressed all round by the positive response and support to business in the face of the coronavirus outbreak with all of its unknown outcomes. Whether … Continued
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I’m learning a different language. It’s kWh rather than mpg. I mean we have all become used to mpg, even though our fuel is delivered in litres. But no matter… Anyway, on the road to zero emissions and electric cars, we need to come to terms with this new language. And you won’t find it … Continued
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We have an interesting viewpoint from our Fleet Alliance HQ. Sitting on the ninth floor we have stunning views across Glasgow. When it’s not raining, of course. But as a fleet provider, we are constantly advising our customers about steps to cleaning up the emissions of their fleets, especially with so many Clean Air Zones … Continued
So here we are – a new year, a new decade. And with boundless opportunities – if we wish to grasp them. But that’s the point of new year resolutions, isn’t it? Will yours be a dry January? Will you go the full course, or slip to temptation? And will all meat and dairy produce … Continued
I was thinking about Santa the other day. Well, it’s that time of year to be fair. Have I been a good boy? Well of course… Do I deserve some presents to be left by Santa? Yeah, I reckon so… But apart from that, I was thinking of Santa. Santa and his reindeer doing their … Continued
Fleet Alliance is a great place to work. I’m rightly proud that for seven successive years we have been recognised by the Great Place to Work Institute as an employer that really cares for its staff. An employer that creates an environment that is rich and rewarding for our employees; and one that translates into … Continued
You might have seen the new company car rates for fuel. Known as the Advisory Fuel Rates, these allow you to reclaim business mileage, or pay back private mileage without incurring punishing Fuel Benefit Tax. The new rates were introduced at the beginning of December. They stay the same as the previous three months, except … Continued