It’s not what the industry wants to hear, but if your thoughts have not yet turned to Euro VI then they likely will need to do so soon. Very soon, in some cases.
That applies to both coach and bus operators. For many of the latter, spreading Clean Air Zones (CAZs) and Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in Scotland will mandate immediate change.
That’s not as easily said as it is done. Lead times for both vehicles and retrofit units can be long. Such an issue is tempered by the amount of time that CAZs and LEZs take to come to fruition. But decisions relating to what supporting funding will be available slow the whole process.
For coach operators, the emission control zone concept is more nuanced. Those based in and around cities where CAZs and LEZs are proposed will find the requirement to move to Euro VI obvious.
But even for those outside such areas, the strategy that some currently use to approach London’s ULEZ – source a small number of Euro VI coaches and use them on all work that involves the Zone – is not viable in the long-term.
It is inevitable that calls for Euro VI will spread and that it will become the only option if charges are to be avoided. When those payments come on multiple weekly – or even daily – occasions, the circle is difficult to square with anything other than Euro VI.
One highly experienced operator faced with a CAZ within a few miles of his yard is uncertain of the most cost-effective option to achieve overall compliance. Like him, you will need to give it serious thought. You can’t afford not to.
