‘Don’t sideline low-emission freight funding’ - FTA11 November 2013

The government's £500 million funding package for ultra-low emission vehicles must allocate more to the transport and distribution sector.

That's the call from the Freight Transport Association (FTA), which says the freight industry can invest in alternative low carbon fuels and technologies if it has sufficient government support.

The £500m will be committed between 2015 and 2020 to increase the uptake of low carbon vehicles, but to date this type of funding has focused on cars and vans, with only £6.5m going to HGVs.

"FTA would like government to realise that heavy goods vehicles have just the same challenges as cars in decarbonising, but to date the freight has been largely sidelined," says Rachael Dillon, FTA climate change policy manager.

"Gas, and ultimately biomethane, is a viable option for reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality for HGVs, but the expense of vehicle conversions and lack of public refuelling infrastructure means that the market is struggling to take off."

The government launched a call for evidence last week and the FTA will submit a full response before the closing date of 10 January 2014.

Author
Laura Cork

Related Companies
Freight Transport Association Ltd

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