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Combined with a modest reduction in car ownership, this approach could lower costs, reduce street clutter and make better use of valuable public space. London already has one of Europe's largest public charging networks. The next phase needs to be smarter, not simply bigger.

Instead of judging success by the number of chargers installed, cities should focus on putting charging where it's most effective: ⚡ Workplaces ⚡ Retail & leisure destinations ⚡ Homes/private parking where possible ⚡ Faster chargers that serve more drivers

One key finding: London could reduce the number of new public charge points it needs by more than a quarter. Not by slowing the EV transition, but by planning charging infrastructure more strategically.

How do you prepare a city for the EV transition without filling every street with charge points? That's the question we've been exploring at Clean Cities. Today we've published Taking Charge, our new report on EV charging in London, Paris, Madrid and Warsaw. 🧵

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It was also great to hear @pollybillington.bsky.social tell the story of how UK100 got started. Thanks to the whole UK100 team for bringing together such a strong programme and so many people committed to improving air quality and reaching net zero from across the UK.

During the Q&A, I asked whether future @thecccuk.bsky.social advice could support zero-emission zones for freight, building on lessons from the Netherlands. In her response, Emma spoke about how mandates can give businesses certainty to invest confidently in cleaner vehicles. Policy signals matter!

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One discussion that really stood out was with @elpinchbeck.bsky.social, CEO of the Climate Change Committee. As part of the conversation, she pointed out that freight remains behind the rest of the transport sector on electrification.

Emma Pinchbeck on stage as part of an in conversation.

Really enjoyed attending @uk100.org's Breathing Life: A Decade of Local Air Quality Ambition this week. It was a fantastic opportunity to catch up with friends across local government, reflect on how far we've come on clean air over the past decade, and discuss the challenges still ahead.

A huge thank you to all our speakers, partners, attendees and to the Sustainable Urban Freight Association for helping make the event such a success. Looking forward to continuing these conversations and accelerating sustainable urban freight in London and beyond!

I also enjoyed closing the event with London Assembly Member @ellybakeram.bsky.social, discussing what's next for transport policy in London. We spoke about how recent and current political change might or might not change things in transport policy, and why collaboration remains essential.

Emma Bayliss-Chan highlighted Royal Mail's work to decarbonise its fleet, while Sela Musa chaired an excellent discussion on the economics of green freight, bringing together researchers and practitioners.

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Jens Mueller, Programme Director at @cleancitiescampaign.org outlined lessons from the Netherlands, showing how their zero-emission freight zones have helped accelerate van electrification. A valuable reminder that effective policy drives real change and an idea that London really needs to nick!

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Our keynote came from @willnorman.co.uk, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner. He outlined London's progress on clean air and climate, but was clear that the mission is not finished. He also spoke about the importance of learning from successful approaches in other countries.

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A key theme throughout the event: cleaner urban freight requires both collaboration and leadership. Policy, industry and research all have a role to play in reducing emissions while keeping cities moving. But if we want to move at pace to electrify, cities need to be the ones to set out a plan.

Will Norman @willnorman.co.uk · 23/06/2026

Proud to have organised and hosted The Future of Urban Freight: London and Beyond during #LondonClimateActionWeek with our partners at the Sustainable Urban Freight Association. A great discussion bringing together policymakers, industry and civil society to explore the future of urban logistics.

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Reposted by Zak Bond

Despite London’s great progress, there's still much to do. We're seeing a much slower electrification of vans in the UK compared with our European neighbours. Just 10% of UK van sales are electric, compared with 78% of new vans in the Netherlands.

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Reposted by Zak Bond

Will Norman @willnorman.co.uk · 23/06/2026

I was delighted to open @cleancitiescampaign.org’s Future of Urban Freight Conference #LCAW2026 Working with business, London is making good progress in making freight & servicing operations cleaner, safer & more sustainable. I talked about EV charging, DVS, cargo bike growth & clean air.

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Zak Bond @zakbond.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Thanks so much for joining us Will!

Prof. Ian Walker @ianwalker.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Reposted by Zak Bond

🚨 New research by us! 📣 Most British drivers don't know how dangerous SUVs are to other road users, but adding information to SUV marketing materials seems to do almost nothing to change people's plans to buy SUVs Here's a 🧵 on why harder action is going to be needed 1/10

A mockup SUV advert image with a prototype safety warning

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Zak Bond @zakbond.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Action to get diesel vans off our streets has not just stalled; it is going in reverse. Crossing the 100,000 mark for company-owned diesel vans should be a wake-up call for London. Time for action Sir Sadiq! @london.gov.uk www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...

standard.co.uk

London needs Dutch-style zero emissions zone to curb diesel van use, Sadiq Khan told

Diesel van registrations by companies in London surpassed 100,000 for the first time on record at the end of 2025

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Reposted by Zak Bond

Dave Comeau @davidajcomeau.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

London could follow the Dutch example of zero emission zones to crack down on commercial diesel vans, which are actually on the rise. City Hall is considering it and campaigners are calling for it. Kumail Jaffer reports www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

mylondon.news

London 'needs zero emission zones to crack down on diesel vans'

Exclusive: A dozen campaign groups have signed a joint letter calling for London to follow the Netherlands' example

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You can read our letter to @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social here cleancitiescampaign.org/wp-content/u... 4/

cleancitiescampaign.org

Early evidence from Dutch zero-emission zones for freight

The Netherlands has already introduced zero emission zones for freight in many of its cities, helping drive a rapid transition to electric vans and trucks by giving businesses clear, long-term certainty about the future. 3/

cleancitiescampaign.org

Freight transport is essential to city life but contributes substantially to emissions, noise and congestion in public space.

London 'needs zero emission zones to crack down on diesel vans'

London has shown leadership on clean air before. But when it comes to cleaning up vans, progress has stalled. That's why Clean Cities, alongside leading health & environmental organisations, is calling on Sadiq Khan to introduce a zero emission zone for freight. 2/

mylondon.news

Exclusive: A dozen campaign groups have signed a joint letter calling for London to follow the Netherlands' example

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For the first time ever, more than 100,000 diesel vans have been registered by businesses on the capital’s streets, and diesel vans are now the largest transport source of NOx pollution in inner and central London. 1/

A graph titled "diesel company vans registered in London have hit 100k mark for the first time". The graph shows how diesel company vans have risen over the past 16 years, reaching over 100,000 for the first time in 2025.

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Future of Urban Freight: London and Beyond · Luma

Happy to say that @willnorman.co.uk, @london.gov.uk's Walking and Cycling Commissioner, will be giving the keynote at @cleancitiescampaign.org's Future of Urban Freight conference at London Climate Action Week. If you haven't signed up yet, we've got just a few spaces left! luma.com/3moyikou

luma.com

Future of Urban Freight: London and Beyond (Conference and Exhibition) Clean Cities in association with the Sustainable Urban Freight Association (SUFA) are…

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Zak Bond @zakbond.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

In a stark contrast, the Conservative Shadow Secretary of State Andrew Griffith spent much of his time doubling down on extracting every last drop from the North Sea, saying we should “fully exploit every resource at our feet.” Horrifying. 2/

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Zak Bond @zakbond.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

I’m at the the Logistics UK (@logisticsuk.bsky.social) conference today, and two ministers and one shadow Secretary of State have spoken. It was very good to hear Kier Mather MP frame decarbonisation and energy security as opportunities to build a stronger future freight sector. But then… 1/