The report, by the House of Commons environmental audit committee, says financial support will be needed along with regulatory reform to develop the market in ultra-low emission vehicles.
For cars it suggests reform to company car taxation, and for vans a reform to the weight limitations on alternatively powered vehicles.
However, says FTA’s Christopher Snelling, “the missing piece... is heavy duty vehicles”.
“From an engineering and technological point of view, it is harder to decarbonise larger road vehicles – electric is not an option,” he points out.
“Trials of alternative power sources for lorries were made under the government’s Low Carbon Truck Trial and a further low emission freight and logistics trial has recently been announced, but more fiscal support will be needed if these new vehicles are to get taken up by purchasers any time soon.”
Only 0.2% of the UK’s HGV fleet currently runs on alternative power, adds Snelling.