Government ultra-low emission vehicles strategy must involve HGVs, says FTA 11 September 2013

While welcoming the inclusion of freight in the government's publication, 'Driving the Future Today – A Strategy for Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles in the UK', the FTA (Freight Transport Association) says it is concerned that not enough funding or focus is being allocated to HGVs.

The strategy, authored by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), aims to deliver a growing fleet of ultra-low emissions vehicles and to provide a network of charging points to encourage uptake.

"There is no denying that the UK should be pushing ahead with making our cars more carbon efficient, but HGVs provide a vital role in delivering the goods for our economy and also need to decarbonise," reasons Rachael Dillon, FTA climate change policy manager.

"In order for the UK to see a significant uptake of alternatively fuelled or low carbon HGVs, we need more financial support and incentives," she adds.

Dillon makes the point that DfT (the Department for Transport) has recently pledged an additional £500 million to fund the provision of ultra low emission vehicles and supporting infrastructure up to 2020.

Previously, vans have also been among recipients of funding, through plug-in van grants. To date, however, just £6.5 million has been allocated to HGVs to help fleet operators to take advantage of alternative fuels and low carbon technologies.

Dillon says that the FTA welcomes the new strategy's acknowledgement of the challenges faced by HGV operators and OLEV's commitment to look further at incentives for the sector.

"FTA would like to see the inclusion of more funding options from government for HGV, to ensure that freight can contribute to carbon reduction, and will respond to the call for evidence," she says.

Author
Brian Tinham

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