In February 2023 Islington Council went live with and delivered a UK first parking permit scheme for electric vehicles (EVs), embedding a comprehensive, data led, strategy to achieving cleaner air through the inclusion of hierarchy charging for EV’s based on battery size for residential parking permits. The EV Hierarchy scheme is demonstrative of innovative thinking, a dedication to sustainable outcomes, and a model for other towns and cities to follow. Working in partnership with local Islington borough based company Smart Transport Hub, Islington was able to deliver the EV hierarchy permit charging programme through joint planning and collaboration and strong communication across all specialist resource supporting the delivery of the project through the partnership.

Islington Council declared a climate emergency in June 2019, recognising the need to drastically reduce carbon emissions in the borough. The council made a pledge to work towards being a Net Zero borough by 2030 and emphasis on public and active transport, such as walking and cycling, are top of the transport policy directives.

In recognising the urgent need to address emissions, the team at Islington, led by Rubena Hafizi and Sara Bailey, and championed by Tony Ralph and Cllr Rowan Champion worked closely in partnership with Smart Transport Hub and developed an exemplar model that other boroughs and cities can seek to follow. The EV hierarchy permit charging programme is designed to both directly and indirectly reduce pollutant emissions while providing a sustainable solution for promoting cleaner air, reducing demand for road space in exchange for increased green space that serves to improve surface water run-off and reduce the ‘heat island’ effect.

Replacing petrol and diesel vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs) remains an essential national strategy for improving local air quality by reducing harmful emissions such as nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. Islington has supported its residents in transitioning to electric vehicles by providing an onstreet charging infrastructure. This infrastructure is particularly crucial as most Islington residents lack off-street parking, making it challenging for them to charge their EVs at home. While acknowledging the environmental benefits of EVs, Islington also recognises that EVs as motorised vehicles contribute to road congestion and road safety issues and particulate matter (PM). Gov.UK states “around half of UK concentrations of PM comes from anthropogenic sources in the UK such as domestic wood burning and tyre and brake wear from vehicles” and “exposure to PM can result in serious impacts to health, especially in vulnerable groups of people such as the young, elderly, and those with respiratory problems.”

Through the working partnership, Islington Council and Smart Transport Hub were able to develop a quantitative hierarchy model specifically for EVs. This model allows for emissions-based permit pricing based on battery size, ensuring that electric vehicles are accurately classified and charged accordingly. One of the key objectives of the partnership was for the Smart Transport Team to support Islington Council in delivering the first London EV Hierarchy Scheme by providing technical expertise and parking knowledge. The team at Smart Transport Hub brought a wealth of experience with Local Government backgrounds in the parking industry including successfully winning a British Parking Award in 2021.

Having been awarded the Inspiration Award at the Royal Lancaster Hotel on Friday 15th September, Tony Ralph – Director for Environment and Commercial Operations said,

“I am proud to announce that our parking team in collaboration with Smart Transport Hub have won the MiPermit Inspiration Award at the British Parking Awards. The award recognises organisations and individuals that have made a significant contribution to improving parking.

The scheme, which ensures that electric vehicles are charged based on the emissions that they create, is one of the many steps we’re taking to create a more environmental friendly future for Islington.

A very well done to everyone involved in the project!”

Christian Constantinides, Managing Director at Smart Transport Hub said,

“Its great to see such impactful innovation through partnership working and how this can support the delivery of local government transport strategy objectives. Thank you to Islington Council for all their support in delivering this project”