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Progress made towards the ULEV strategy for the region

The Council's Climate Change Cabinet Steering Group met on Wednesday

The Council’s Climate Change Cabinet Steering Group has received an update on the progress made and actions completed towards the Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles (ULEV) Strategy covering the Cardiff Capital Region.

At its meeting on Wednesday, November 10, the Steering Group considered a report providing the latest position. Cenex – an organisation specialising in low emission vehicle research and consultancy – was commissioned to prepare the Strategy, which was updated before being considered by the Regional Transport Authority Board on September 9.

Cenex has also prepared a Metro Plus ULEV Strategy and a ULEV Taxi Strategy, which have been approved. They are now undertaking a similar study to enable proposals for the transition of school transport to net zero, and the next steps will also include a study around the public transport network.

Merthyr Tydfil Council is the lead authority managing the funding for the ULEV Transformation for the Region, and the Cardiff Capital Region is managing the delivery of the programme identified by the Regional Transport Authority

In 2020/21, the lead authority was awarded funding of around £3.2m for the purchase of the 100% electric taxis, part of the provision for the charging infrastructure for taxis, a ULEV delivery partner, and an engagement session with the trade. In 2021/22, Merthyr Tydfil Council has been awarded a further £4,814,095 in response to a regional bid submitted, in order to deliver the following schemes under the proposal by March 31, 2022:

  • Taxi ULEV infrastructure – £1.25m.
  • The zero emission taxi pilot scheme – £573,594 in 2021/22.
  • Public use ULEV (on-street, car parks and transport hubs) – £2.87m.
  • ULEV delivery partner – £50,000.
  • Electric vehicle roadshow – £70,000.

The report outlines the work carried out to date utilising the fund, including:

  • Provision of taxi chargers. To date, 34 chargers are currently being installed at 31 sites identified by Local Authorities, with 10 of the sites being operational by November 30, 2021, and the other 21 due for completion imminently. SWARCO was awarded the contract, which covers a concession agreement including the maintenance of the chargers and the delivery of the concession for a five-year period with the option to extend on an annual basis for a further three years. The concession includes a profit share back to the CCR after year two.
  • ULEV provision for taxis – ‘Try Before You Buy Scheme’. The three-year pilot project purchased 44 wheelchair-accessible 100% electric vehicles in 2020/21. Days Rental, has been awarded a contract to manage the pilot scheme, and this scheme is being launched at the COP26 regional day.
  • ULEV provision of public-use charging infrastructure. In total, 159 sites have been identified throughout the Region and a contract is currently in the process of being awarded to deliver this programme, which will include around 640 dual 7 and 22KW chargers, for on-street, car parks and transport hubs.
  • ULEV provision of bus charging infrastructure. In total, 15 sites are identified throughout the Region and costed at transport hubs.

Further work is currently being progressed to consider extending the taxi pilot programme to include provision for private hire vehicles. Likewise, a similar pilot is being developed for a regional car club programme.

Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Tackling Climate Change Champion, said: “Members of the Council’s Climate Change Cabinet Steering Group received this very useful update at its meeting on Wednesday, which details the latest position of the ULEV Strategy covering the 10 Local Authority Areas of South East Wales, in the Cardiff Capital Region.

“The update shows the activity being undertaken this year using £4.8m identified in a ULEV Transformation Fund. This ranges from installing taxi chargers, to identifying sites for the use of the public and buses which will be rolled out in the future. This funding has been brought forward to assist Welsh Government in its transformation of the transport network to ULEV, and to help reach the target of zero emissions from buses and taxis by 2028.

“This report covering the Cardiff Capital Region was one of several to be considered by the Steering Group on Wednesday. A separate report to the meeting looked at how the Council is developing a strategy for Electric Vehicle Charging in Rhondda Cynon Taf as part of its Climate Change commitments.”

Posted on 12/11/2021