The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership have launched their own good practice guide to encourage take up of low emission vehicles. A key recommendation is that policy measures implemented at local government levels should be consistent with each other, that common definitions and vocabulary for low emission vehicles should be established.

With the twelve cities shortlisted for the £35m Go Ultra Low City scheme now preparing their final bids, the guide provides a wide range of options that bidders may employ. Released to coincide with the LowCVP’s 2015 annual conference which features a discussion on mobility in future cities, the LowCVP has identified five ‘P’s from the guide – points that LowCVP hopes local authorities can use to influence low emission vehicle uptake at the local level. They are: parking (discounts for LEVs or dedicated bays), permits (discounts for LEVs to operate in low emission zones and for residents and preferential permits for LEV taxis), planning (embedding consideration for LEV fuelling infrastructure into local development), procurement (local authorities specifying LEVs for their own fleets and setting leading standards for their service providers) and promorion (promoting the benefits to business and via educational activity within the local community).

The five ‘Ps’ are a powerful to local policy makers as levers to stimulate local LEV uptake, say LowCVP.

Examples of successful private public partnerships are explained in the guide, in combination with case studies of good practice in the UK and internationally. The guide also outlines challenges local authorities face in adopting LEV policies, and provides recommendations for how these can be overcome.

Gloria Esposito, LowCVP head of projects, said “The Guide can help local authorities to offer consistent benefits to individuals and companies which will give LEV drivers the peace of mind and confidence they need to make the switch.”

Derek McCreadie, low emission officer, City of York Council, also commented: “City of York Council recognises the importance of using local policy measures to support the adoption of low emission vehicles. The new LowCVP ‘good practice guide’ offers a broad range of case studies and innovative policy ideas that can be replicable across any local government context.”