What Zemo Partnership does

Zemo Partnership is an independent, UK-based non-profit partnership (legally Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, registered in England and Wales) founded in 2003 and rebranded from LowCVP in 2023. It operates as a multi-stakeholder convener whose mission is to accelerate the transition to zero-emission road transport in the United Kingdom. The organisation brings together vehicle manufacturers, fleet operators, fuel and energy companies, government departments (DfT, devolved administrations, local authorities), academia, and environmental NGOs to develop standards, assurance schemes, and policy positions across buses, cars, commercial vehicles, fuels, and energy infrastructure.

Its core "products" are domain-specialist certification and accreditation schemes rather than software or hardware. These include the Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme (RFAS) — extended into RFAS Fleet, RFAS Aviation and RFAS Heat-Power-Marine — the Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) certification supporting DfT's ZEBRA funding, the Zero Emission Vehicle Repower Accreditation Scheme (ZEVRAS), and the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS) commissioned by the Joint Air Quality Unit. The portfolio also comprises strategic initiatives such as the Council for Net Zero Transport (chaired by Lord Deben), the EV Energy Taskforce, the Powered Light Vehicles Community, and the Zero Emission Mobility Taskforce, alongside an extensive publications library (408+ reports, 743 presentations, 3,349 news articles).

Zemo Partnership is funded primarily through annual organisational membership fees tiered by size and type: from £350 (charities) to £7,500 (large businesses with turnover over £50M), with public sector and academic tiers at £688 and £720 respectively. Distribution is direct via the website, and the value proposition is essentially regulatory-adjacent convening power, technical authority over assurance schemes, and recognised standing with UK and devolved governments — a model that derives monetisation from participation rather than transaction fees.

Name

Zemo Partnership

Legal name

Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership

Website

https://zemo.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zemo Partnership is a UK-based, independent non-profit partnership (founded 2003, formerly LowCVP) that convenes government, industry, and academia to develop certification schemes, policy, and standards accelerating the transition to zero-emission road transport.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transport decarbonisation partnership and certification services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (813990)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Supplier Engagement & Value-Chain Decarbonization Programs (EUABAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

GHG Accounting & Net-Zero/Decarbonization Planning (Scopes 1–3) (EUAHAJAC), Benchmarking, Ratings & Stakeholder Reporting Portals (Scorecards, Dashboards) (EUABAEAJ), Sustainability & Emissions Management for Air Travel (SAF, CO2 Reporting) (THACAHAJ), Climate Finance Strategy (CapEx planning, green finance, incentives & grants) (EUABAKAG)

Keywords

• Transport decarbonisation partnership
• Renewable fuels assurance
• Zero emission bus certification
• Clean vehicle retrofit accreditation
• Mobility industry consortium

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees charged to organisations across seven tiers based on annual turnover or organisation type. Fees range from £350 (charities) to £7,500 (large businesses >£50M turnover), with separate tiers for public sector (£688) and academic institutions (£720). The membership year runs April 2025 to March 2026.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zemo Partnership is a UK-based independent non-profit partnership that convenes government, industry, academia, and NGOs to accelerate the transition to zero-emission road transport. It sells annual organisational membership across seven tiers and delivers a portfolio of certification and assurance schemes (notably the Zero Emission Bus certification supporting DfT funding, the Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme across road, aviation, and heat/power/marine sectors, and retrofit and repower accreditation schemes), alongside research, policy advice, taskforces, and convening events.

Product overview

Zemo Partnership operates as a membership-based collaboration platform focused on accelerating UK transport to zero emissions. The organization offers a portfolio of certification schemes (Zero Emission Bus certification, RFAS for renewable fuels), guidance publications (Zero Emission Bus Guide, Renewable Fuels Guide, Retrofit Technology Guide), and online tools (E10 Compatibility Checker). Key initiatives include the Council for Net Zero Transport, EV Energy Taskforce, and Powered Light Vehicles Community. The portfolio includes both road transport solutions (buses, cars, commercial vehicles) and fuel certification across aviation, marine, and heat/power sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme (RFAS): Pioneering scheme helping fleet managers drive down their greenhouse gas emissions by choosing the best performing fuel. Extensions include RFAS Fleet, RFAS Heat-Power-Marine, and RFAS Aviation.
• Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Certification Scheme
• Zero Emission Vehicle Repower Accreditation Scheme (ZEVRAS)
• Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS)
• Council for Net Zero Transport
• Zero Emission Mobility Taskforce
• Powered Light Vehicles (PLV) Community
• EV Energy Taskforce

Products and services

• Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Certification Scheme Certification scheme for UK bus operators, manufacturers, and local authorities that certifies zero emission bus models as eligible for Department for Transport funding under programmes such as ZEBRA, providing an independent gateway to multi-million pound national funding.
• Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme (RFAS) Independent voluntary assurance scheme that verifies the sustainability and supply chain traceability of renewable fuels used by UK fleet operators, fuel suppliers, and aviation/marine/heat and power users, with sub-modules RFAS Fleet, RFAS Aviation, and RFAS Heat-Power-Marine.
• Zero Emission Vehicle Repower Accreditation Scheme (ZEVRAS) Accreditation scheme for bus and coach operators, retrofit providers, and regulators that accredits the conversion of existing buses and coaches to zero emission propulsion, launched in March 2024.
• E10 Compatibility Checker Free online number-plate lookup tool for UK drivers that quickly identifies whether their petrol vehicle is compatible with E10 petrol, supporting consumer information during the UK transition to E10.
• Council for Net Zero Transport Independent strategic advisory council chaired by Lord Deben that brings together senior representatives from transport, energy, automotive, logistics, government, and environmental organisations to set the strategic direction for UK road transport decarbonisation under Zemo Partnership's convening role.
• EV Energy Taskforce Cross-sector taskforce convened by Zemo Partnership that brings energy, transport, and mobility sectors together to ensure the UK electricity network is ready for mass EV uptake, producing reports on charging infrastructure requirements.
• Powered Light Vehicles (PLV) Community Multi-stakeholder community convened by Zemo Partnership to bring UK Government, industry, and expert stakeholders together to shape policy and market development for zero emission lightweight transport (L-category vehicles for personal mobility and freight).
• Zemo Partnership Organisational Membership Annual organisational membership for UK and international companies, public sector bodies, academic institutions, and charities across seven tiers, providing access to working groups, certification schemes, the annual Summit, and direct engagement with policymakers and industry peers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 initiatives delivered in 2021-22
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• FIAflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 December 2026Zemo Partnership collaborated with the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile), the world governing body for motorsport, to develop a unique scheme to certify the use of sustainable racing fuel for Formula 1 from 2026. This partnership represents a high-profile initiative to bring certified sustainable fuel to elite motorsport.
• Council for Net Zero TransportflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024An independent strategic advisory body convened by Zemo Partnership, chaired by Lord Deben (former Chair of the Climate Change Committee). The Council includes senior representatives from transport, energy, automotive, logistics, government, and environmental organisations to provide strategic oversight for UK transport decarbonisation.
• UK Power NetworkscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUK Power Networks was a Headline Sponsor of the Zemo Partnership Summit 2024. As a key stakeholder in energy infrastructure, they support the transition to electric vehicles through electricity distribution.
• Certas EnergycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCertas Energy was a Headline Sponsor of the Zemo Partnership Summit 2024. They are a major fuel supplier promoting HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) as part of the low carbon fuel transition.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cenex: UK-based not-for-profit focused on low-carbon transport technology and innovation, including EV and hydrogen demonstrations. Highly comparable as a UK transport decarbonisation membership/research body with overlapping OEM, fleet, and government relationships.
• Energy Saving Trust: Independent UK organisation delivering advice, certification, and programmes on energy efficiency and low-carbon transport, including EV consumer guidance. Comparable mission, UK-only footprint, and certification/assurance-style offerings.
• Transport & Environment: European non-profit advocating clean transport policy across road, rail, aviation, and shipping. Comparable as a transport-focussed environmental advocacy and policy organisation, though operating at a regional (EU) rather than UK national level.
• UK Green Building Council: UK membership-based non-profit advancing sustainable built environment policy and standards. Highly comparable as a sectoral council operating through working groups, member tiers, and policy influence.
• Renewable Energy Association: UK trade association for renewables and clean technologies including bioenergy, hydrogen, and transport fuels. Comparable membership-based advocacy model covering overlapping fuel supply-chain stakeholders.

Broad incumbents

• South Pole Group: Global climate solutions provider offering carbon credit development, climate strategy, and supply-chain decarbonisation advisory. Comparable as a scaled assurance/verification provider in adjacent carbon and fuel markets.
• Environmental Resources Management (ERM): Global sustainability consultancy offering carbon accounting, climate strategy, and supply-chain decarbonisation services. Comparable as a potential competitor and adjacent service provider to Zemo's RFAS assurance work.
• SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders): UK automotive industry trade association representing vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers. Broader incumbent in the same transport ecosystem with overlapping OEM membership but commercial (not non-profit) mandate.

Others

• Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (historical): Zemo Partnership's own predecessor organisation (LowCVP, 2003–2023). Included for completeness as the same legal entity; the rebrand itself signals Zemo's evolution toward zero-emission framing.
• GreenFleet: UK media and events business focused on fleet decarbonisation, including the GreenFleet Summer Summit where Zemo staff have been recognised. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zemo
• Xx.com/Zemo_Org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zemo Partnership