Eco friendly parking permits first issued in 2008

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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES BY THE DEPUTY OF GROUVILLE

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 20th MARCH 2012

Question

Further to the answer to a written question tabled on 21st February 2012 relating to the "eco- friendly parking permits" which were first issued in 2008, would the Minister provide the following further details to enable members to establish a clearer understanding of the success or otherwise of this incentive scheme which is aimed at improving air quality -

1. The total number of vehicles registered for "eco-friendly parking permits" in each of 2009 and 2010.
2. The  total value (to  the  nearest pound) of  the  parking scratch cards issued to "eco- friendly" qualifying vehicles in each of 2008, 2009 and 2010.
3. The total number of all vehicles qualifying under emission band B (100/120gm CO2/km) in each of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
4. The total value (to the nearest pound) of the parking scratch cards issued to all qualifying vehicles in band B in each of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
5. The total number of hybrid vehicles qualifying under emission band B in each of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
6. The total value (to the nearest pound) of the parking scratch cards issued to hybrid vehicles qualifying under band B in each of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011?

Answer

1. The total number of eco permits issued in 2009 was 26, and in 2010 was 47.
2. The total value of 50% discounted scratch cards issued for use by vehicles issued with an eco permit was £1190.70 in 2008, £2,231.30 in 2009, and £4,004.04 in 2010. 50% discounted season tickets for use by vehicles issued were also sold amounting to £115.12 in 2008, £506.00 in 2009, and £2,827.58 in 2010.
3. CO2 emission figures for vehicles were not gathered until Vehicle Emission Duty was introduced in September 2010. Therefore total vehicles registered on the island which qualified for the scheme in 2008, 2009 and 2010 cannot be determined accurately. Similarly, the vehicle registration database is not configured to extract the information asked for 2011. However, an estimate of the number of hybrid vehicles registered that would qualify under emission band B is:-

2009 – 16 2010 - 20 2011 - 32

4. When scratch cards are sold to the general public, they are not asked which vehicle each scratch card is to be used with. TTS do not know which scratch cards sold are used with hybrid vehicles; this information is therefore not available. The scheme is policed by ensuring that vehicles using 50% discount scratch cards are also displaying an eco permit.

5. "Hybrid" has only been recorded as a fuel type since the beginning of 2009. The number of hybrid vehicles first registered in 2009, 2010 and 2011 were 28, 32 and 67 respectively. Of the 67 registered in 2011 (the first full year during which CO2 emissions were recorded) 32 of these vehicles were recorded with CO2 emissions qualifying within band B (100-120 g/km). It should be noted that the current year model Toyota Prius hybrid now qualifies for an eco permit in Band A, but when the scheme started qualified in band B.
6. When scratch cards are sold to the general public, they are not asked which vehicle each scratch card is to be used with. TTS do not know which scratch cards sold are used with hybrid vehicles; this information is therefore not available. The scheme is policed by ensuring that vehicles using 50% discount scratch cards are also displaying an eco permit.

Further to the answer to this question and the question answered on Tuesday 21st February on this subject, I would like to make it absolutely clear that all qualifying hybrid vehicles registered before the cut off point will continue to enjoy the benefit of eco friendly parking as long as the present scheme runs, as vehicles are qualified at the point they are first registered in Jersey. There is no intention to retrospectively apply the new emission requirements to previously registered vehicles circulating on the Island.

Manufacturers of vehicles are continually making improvements to the technology and hybrid vehicles are achieving lower emissions levels as demonstrated by the Toyota Prius. This change to the rules will support the goal of the Sustainable Transport Policy, as amended, of encouraging small low emissions vehicles. As technology advances it is envisaged that there will be further changes to the scheme to ensure that it always incentivise the use of the state of the art vehicles which are overall the least environmentally damaging.