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Land transportation
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is calling for an urgent government-led strategy to encourage the uptake of zero-emission HGVs in the country. According to SMMT, the lack of dedicated charging and hydrogen filling points for HGVs on Britain’s strategic road network makes it impossible for most operators to contemplate decarbonizing their fleets, putting at risk critical CO2 emission savings of up to 21.1m tonnes per year.
From 2035, all new HGVs weighing under 26 tonnes sold in the UK must be zero-emission, with the remaining heavier vehicles to be completely decarbonized five years later. However, just over a decade from now, the first deadline for end-of-sale for the predominantly diesel HGV workhorses, the sector faces challenges as electric and hydrogen models currently account for just one in 600 lorries on UK roads.
SMMT is calling for a strategy that focuses on the specific requirements of HGVs within the next 12 months. The strategy should improve incentives for operators to encourage investment in zero-emission trucks, set out a plan to support and coordinate the installation of public and depot-based charging and refuelling points, and include reforms to support investment, planning, and energy provision for critical depot-based infrastructure.
SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said that with just over a decade until the UK begins to phase out new diesel lorries, they cannot afford to delay a strategy that will deliver the world’s first decarbonized HGV sector. Hawes added that a successful transition requires a long-term plan to drive the rollout of a dedicated UK-wide HGV charging and fuelling network, combined with world-leading incentives to encourage uptake and attract model allocation.
The HGV sector plays a critical role in carrying goods, including food, medicines, clothes, construction materials, and waste across the UK. With the right infrastructure in place, the latest cutting-edge vehicle technology being delivered by manufacturers could deliver these services with zero emissions.
The SMMT recommends suitable funding commitments, competitive purchase incentives, and a dedicated HGV infrastructure strategy by 2024 Spring.