ISO 14001 and the UK ban new gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2030

As an auditor of the management system, I have met with many companies and I have the honor to understand the risks, opportunities and future plans of customers. Therefore, when I first heard that the UK was about to ban gasoline and diesel cars, I realized that this could have a huge impact on these customers. Here is what you need to do to prepare your organization and make sure you are ready to take full advantage of the ban.

When will petrol and diesel vehicles be banned in the UK?

On November 18, 2020, the British government announced a ban on the sale of new gasoline and diesel-powered cars and trucks from 2030, and a ban on the sale of new hybrid vehicles from 2035.

This ban does not mean that existing vehicles must be removed from the road, so you will be able to use gasoline and diesel powered vehicles with newer electric vehicles.

How did companies respond to the ban?

Since the announcement of the ban in 2030, it is interesting to see its comparative impact on the environmental management system. The answers can be roughly divided into three categories.

Some companies have missed the news: Understandably, the COVID-19 pandemic means that many companies have missed the announcement and have not yet added it to their risk register, let alone start planning changes.

Some companies have updated their risk registers: For some organizations, the changes are already listed in the risk register, and in some cases, this has led to the setting of environmental goals.

Some companies can’t wait to change: For a small but growing number of companies, especially those that perform downtown deliveries and “last mile” deliveries, electric trucks and electric bicycles have become part of the transportation fleet.

If your organization falls into the first camp, don't worry-you are not alone. No matter which camp your organization belongs to, the following are things I suggest you prepare for the upcoming ban.

How to prepare for the embargo of gasoline and diesel vehicles in 2030

1. Add the ban to your risk register

This is the first step in any preparation. Check your ISO 14001 risk register or CROO matrix, and consider adding transportation issues, such as how goods and people get to work, where people work, and the transportation infrastructure the company invests in. If you start to get some advice, don't be surprised to add more environmental factors related to transportation in your risk register from your auditor, because we all need to start planning for this change.

No one vehicle option is suitable for all businesses, so when we look at pure electric trucks and cars, we need to consider vehicle use cases.

2. Check the data

View any data your organization holds related to current vehicle usage patterns. Before investing in pure electric vehicles and trucks, you need to understand the maximum range required per day. Data sources may include gas cards or expense reimbursements.

In situations where companies currently do not have access to any useful data, they usually create ISO 14001 goals to collect and review data that can help make informed vehicle use case decisions. I have seen this work well in many companies. I have been told that some leasing companies can use this data to help narrow the candidate list of suitable vehicles.

Data from fees, gas cards, and vehicle trackers can be used to understand the actual range currently required by the vehicle. Pure electric cars and vans with a cruising range of more than 200 miles are now more common than you think. Some vehicles, such as Volkswagen ID.3 and Tesla Model 3, can travel more than 300 miles on a single charge. Take a moment to determine which option is right for you at a reasonable price. I remember that the gas tank of my 1980s Ford Escort gave me 350 miles of true cruising range, which did not cause any mileage anxiety in me. Do your current fleet needs meet this range profile?

3. Consider the benefits of electric vehicles

Electric vehicles are expected to solve other problems. Some vehicles such as Hyundai Ionic 5 provide a "vehicle loading" function. For rural businesses and those operating in areas with beautiful natural scenery, the ability to use van batteries to run power tools when working in remote areas will eliminate the need for diesel fuel and leaky toolboxes. Although the current rental cost of battery vehicles is relatively high, some organizations have seen cost savings throughout the life cycle due to low fuel costs.

How did other companies react to the UK's gasoline and diesel ban?

Many of the largest British fleet operators have completed the calculations for themselves and are now taking action. It is worth noting that the British Electric Fleet Alliance, whose members are responsible for managing 400,000 fleet vehicles, has pledged to switch to electric vehicles by the 2030 deadline.

Its members include BT, Openreach, Anglian Water, Centrica, DPD UK, Engie, Fleet Alliance, Foxtons, Hitachi Capital UK, Iberdrola (Scottish Power), Ingka Group (IKEA), LeasePlan, Mawdsleys, Mitie, Natwest Group, Octopus, Orsted , OVO Energy, Severn Trent, Tesco, Tusker and Unilever. This is a long list of fleet managers who have completed some total cost of ownership and operating calculations. If your business hasn’t looked at this data yet, you can make this task an environmental goal and start making spreadsheets.

British Gas has ordered 3,000 Vauxhall Vivaro-e trucks as part of its 12,000 truck fleet. By the middle of this century, many of these early electric trucks are likely to flow into the second-hand market.

With the advancement of technology, some companies are setting environmental goals and calculating numbers for themselves every 6 months in order to be able to find the critical point where the entire life cycle cost of electric vehicles is meaningful to the company.

Where I audit companies that already have electric trucks in a fleet, I want to see issues related to the scope of the risk register or non-compliance log. In fact, the reports I got were reliable vehicles with low operating costs and high mechanical reliability.

In summary

If a change is imminent, please ensure that the plan for the change is included in the risk register as part of the management system. If employees need to commute and go to work, the company needs to consider the impact and choice of the company on the trip as part of the environmental management system.

Other environmental changes that may encourage you to consider future vehicle choices include CAZ (Clean Air Zone), ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) and more mature road charging zones such as London congestion zones.

The changes set by the government provide a minimum working benchmark for all of us. Some environmental changes are usually practical, beneficial, cost-effective, and can improve our reputation for early adoption. Make full use of your environmental management system to help you make decisions based on facts and usage data, and pay close attention to more environmental changes.

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