MPs favour TED cuts for greener vehicles
Page 18
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• by Toby Clark More than two-thirds of MPs would support vehicle excise duty reductions for 'technology-enabled vehicles" fitted with information and communication systems to reduce congestion and pollution—and future VED rates could depend on whether an engine complies with Euro emissions standards.
According to a Harris poll of 160 MPs in February, 69% said they would support VED reductions; '82% would approve cash grants for operators; and 18% would approve the creation of priority lanes for use by technology-enabled vehicles. Only 11% said they would not support any of those measures.
The figures were revealed at a discussion of the future of technology-enabled vehicles sponsored by tracking and fleet management specialist Isotrak.
The survey also revealed a party bias on the issue, with 46% of Labour MPs backing grants, against just 15% of Conservatives. However, 87% of Conservative MPs would back VED reductions for technologyenabled vehicles, against 62% of Labour members.
Also appearing at the forum was Professor Alan McKinnon, of the School of Management at Heriot-Watt University. McKinnon, who advises the government on transport issues, thinks that vehicle technology will have a direct impact on operating costs. "I would predict that VED will be linked to the Euro emissions standards," he said.
Craig Sears-Black, commercial director of Isotrak, admitted that few operators had yet capitalised on information and communication technology: "Percentage growth rate is very high, but percentage penetration is still very low."
But he was bullish about its prospects, saying: "You won't get a single head of a large logistics company who believes that this isn't going to happen."
Widespread adoption of IT and communications devices (especially those linked to fleet management systems) will depend on the adoption of universal technical standards.
Sears-Black said: "It's in the hands of the system providers and service providers to come up with standards." But he admitted that Isotrak was not in wider talks on the issue.
McKinnon pointed out that operators could lead the way by demanding inter-system compatibility—just as firms have required their suppbers to conform to ISO quality management standards.
Some delegates suggested that it might be time for the IT industry to co-operate with operators, telecoms providers and vehicle manufacturers to sort out some acceptable standards for fleet management and communication.