LowCVP identifies potential of UK minibus market for cutting carbon and local pollution
Sat 28 June 2014
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The LowCVP has completed a research project commissioned to provide detailed evidence about the UK market for minibuses and the potential they offer for reducing carbon emissions. Although bus and coach operators have small minibus fleets, they contribute a higher share of emissions as they are often higher mileage and relatively old vehicles. Taxi and private hire vehicles account for the largest proportion of emissions of CO2 as well as local pollutants NOx and PM.
The study found that there are around 93,000 minibuses registered in the UK .Though they contribute a small proportion of overall CO2 emissions they also merit attention for their contribution to emissions of local pollutants.
The LowCVP commissioned Transport and Travel Research (TTR) to analyse the UK market for minibuses. The objectives of the study were:
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To better understand the structure of the minibus market taking into account private, public and leased fleets.
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To estimate the CO2 emissions associated with minibuses operating in the UK and their contribution to transport CO2 emissions in the UK.
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To estimate the PM10 and NOx emissions associated with minibuses operating in the UK and their contribution to transport air pollution emission in the UK.
Minibuses have not previously been considered in the DfT’s low carbon bus policy. However at the outset of the study, the creation of a ‘low carbon minibus’ definition was one measure that could potentially open future Green Bus Funding rounds to a new range of smaller passenger transport vehicles.
Most minibuses sold in the UK today are built by OEMs based on their panel vans. (The Ford Transit minibus is the most popular with about half of new registrations in 2012.) Non-OEM van conversions are becoming less common, but still make up about 10% of sales.
Vehicles adapted for special use, both body builds and purpose builds each make up less than 2% of the fleet, they are mostly used by the community transport sector. Approximately 6,000 minibuses have been sold each year since 2008, this is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
There have been two previous low emission options for minibuses, the Smith Transit pure electric minibus and the Ashwoods hybrid system, which can be retrofitted to a Ford Transit (as well as other models). There are also various other low carbon options for panel vans, which could be applied to minibuses. This includes the Mercedes Sprinter CNG panel van; the Mercedes Sprinter minibus is the second most popular minibus in the UK.
There are four main operator types in the UK. Educational establishments make up over 20% of the minibus fleet and local authorities between 10% and 20%. Community transport and taxi and private hire make up just over 10% each.
Approximately 40% of vehicles were not captured by the study. They are likely to be operated by individuals, small businesses or large businesses with very few minibuses. Leasing companies are responsible for just over 10% of minibuses in the UK and mainly lease (about 70%) to educational establishments.
The LowCVP study supports the intent of the DfT's new Clean Vehicle Technology Fund as it addresses both local air pollution and CO2 emissions arising from minibuses, including taxis and private hire vehicles.
The full report is now downloadable from the LowCVP website.
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