London shared business e-van scheme set to launch in Brixton

Participating small businesses in Brixton and London (including street and market traders based locally) will be offered the chance to use an electric van sharing service through the Cross River Partnership’s Clean Air Villages programme, which will be available free-of-charge for eligible businesses.

Some of the benefits that the service claims to offer include the fact that it:

• Encourages businesses based locally to scrap highly polluting vans
• Reduces the number of vans on the roads generally, helping to tackle the area’s high congestion and pollution levels
• Reduces parking demand in the area
• Ensures local businesses can continue to operate in the current and expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

The EV shared van scheme is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, and is the result of a joint collaboration between Lambeth Council, Brixton BID, Zipcar for Business and Cross River Partnership’s Clean Air Villages programme. The project is funded by Lambeth Council and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).

Cllr Claire Holland, Deputy Leader of Lambeth Council and Cabinet Lead for the Environment and Clean Air, said: “I’m proud that right here in the heart of Brixton we have got London’s first electric van solely for the use of local businesses. We are determined to help Lambeth’s local businesses transition to low-carbon ways of working and electric vehicles and cargo bikes are the way forward. We all need to play our own role in tackling the climate crisis and by choosing to use electric vehicles, small businesses in Lambeth are leading from the front.”

Susannah Wilks, Director of Cross River Partnership, added: “We are delighted to be launching a shared electric vehicle for businesses in Brixton. It is a first for London, and we are sure it won’t be the last! It has been an exciting journey working with our partners and collaborators to bring this initiative to life and we look forward to talking with users about their experiences, in turn supporting long term positive change. We strongly believe in the need for improved air quality in London. We’re not there yet, and we all have a part to play. We look forward to delivering future air quality improvement projects as part of our Clean Air Villages, Clean Air Thames, and Healthy Streets Everyday programmes, to make London the best possible place it can be.”