Consultation on heavier alternative-fuel vans
The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a consultation on proposals which would allow ‘alternative-fuel’ vehicles of up to 4.25 tonnes to be driven on car licences, and continue to be excused annual testing.
Drivers would be exempt from the Driver CPC, because they would be driving on a Category B licence in a temporary derogation that would last for five years. Only vehicles operating in the hire and reward sector would be covered by operator licensing.
Vehicles allowed to operate within the 4.25-tonne limit would include those powered by electricity (including battery, range-extended vehicles and plug-in hybrids), hydrogen (fuel cell electric vehicles), natural gas (CNG, LNG and biomethane) and liquid petroleum gas and bioLPG. The objective is to reduce CO2 emissions and improve urban air quality.
In proposing these changes, the DfT argues that there is no evidence to suggest that vehicles with a mass of 4,250kg are significantly more difficult to drive than 3,500kg vehicles. Therefore the frequency of accidents involving these vehicles is unlikely to materially change when compared with 3,500kg vehicles.
The additional weight from alternatively-fuelled propulsion systems is likely to be centred around the chassis or underneath the cab, rather than high up in the load space, which should minimise any negative impacts on handling and manoeuvrability. However, it is recognised that the increased mass of a 4,250kg vehicle could potentially make vehicles more damaging if involved in a collision.
“A full impact assessment will be conducted following this consultation to determine the full extent of likely environmental benefits and safety risks,” the DfT added.
France and Germany already have a derogation for electric vehicles in place, and Germany has recently extended this to other alternative fuels. The DfT argues that by including gas fuels with electricity, it has made the derogation ‘technology-neutral’.
Vehicles covered by the exemption would not be excused the need for N2 Type Approval and construction and use conformancy required for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross weight. Gas-fuelled vehicles would be required to pay what the DfT calls ‘excess duty’ (presumably vehicle excise duty) for their weight, but pure battery electrics will remain exempt.
There are also proposals concerning the removal or retention of current legislation that exempts electric vehicles from annual test.
Martin Flach, Iveco’s alternative fuels director (pictured), said: “Increasingly, customers are looking seriously at low-emission LCVs, but at 3.5 tonnes, vehicles are usually critical on payload and it has resulted in a much lower take-up of vehicles than we would have liked.
“It’s always seemed nonsensical that companies keen to implement innovative technology that is better for the environment, should be penalised on payload and have to pay for additional driver training.
“As a key alternative fuels vehicle manufacturer that truly believes in sustainable transport, Iveco has been campaigning on this issue for several years so we’re delighted with the proposal that has been made.
“If the plan is accepted, we firmly believe it would quickly boost the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles and consequently improve air quality. The vehicles are available; we just need the government to ensure businesses are being given the opportunity to make the most of them.”
Readers can find the consultation here.
