Heathrow’s ground-breaking Clean Vehicles Programme is going from strength to strength, with vehicles assessed in 2008 showing a 24% reduction in NOx emissions, and four members receiving awards at a recent seminar at the Heathrow Academy.
BAA launched its Clean Vehicles Programme (CVP) at Heathrow in February 2003, the aim being to help airport-based organisations improve emissions by focusing on four key performance areas – reducing mileage, improving fuel economy, introducing cleaner vehicles and reducing staff travel. Assessments on these four areas are independently verified and members are allocated performance awards ranging from Bronze to Diamond. The programme now has more than 43 members and continues to expand. BAA Heathrow is itself a member of the CVP and was recently successful in achieving an improvement from Gold performance level to Platinum.
The results of the 2008 assessments were revealed at the seminar, with 2,697 vehicles surveyed last year. 75% of these vehicles are now compliant with the latest Euro 4 emissions targets, and NOx emissions from the vehicles assessed are down 24% compared with 2007.
Commenting on the scheme, Adrian Collins, Heathrow’s Risk and Safety Management Director said: "It’s great to see so many companies at Heathrow interested in the Clean Vehicles Programme. Climate change and air quality are issues of great concern to everyone involved with the airport, and the CVP is one way in which all companies here can make a difference."
Four companies have received new standards – SAS Ground Handling joined the scheme in the last year and were graded Silver; Comet Tankers and APCOA both improved their performance from Silver to Platinum and First Buses were given a special award for retaining their Diamond status.
At the annual seminar companies involved in the CVP were on hand to demonstrate the latest technology, and airport staff were invited to take a look at cutting edge vehicles on display. One such vehicle, an electric van from Verde Technologies, will be on trial with various BAA Heathrow departments over the next few weeks and will be seen all over the airport.
For more information, please contact the BAA Press Office on 020 8745 7224.
- In 2007, BAA awarded incentive fund grants for three projects representing an investment of over £35,000. The projects included:Replacing one of DHL Excel’s diesel delivery vans with an equivalent electric van, reducing local emissions by 100%; upgrading the National Express Hoppa coach fleet to meet stringent Euro V emissions standards, reducing NOx emissions by 72%; and rolling out advanced driver training to Hasmead Plc’s operational staff to help improve fuel consumption and reduce vehicle emissions.
- The Clean Vehicles Programme has previously been nominated for a European Award for the Environment
