FTA calls for ‘green truck fund’ and London air quality incentives

The Freight Transport Association has called on the government to launch a ‘green truck fund’, which it claims would help fleet operators to adopt alternative fuels and low carbon technologies, in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions and pollutants.

FTA says that high vehicle purchase or conversion costs, combined with a lack of public refuelling infrastructure, are inhibiting the drive towards a greener UK fleet – and claims government investment is necessary to help remove these barriers.

“The majority of funding to date has been allocated towards cars and vans,” said FTA climate change policy manager Rachael Dillon.

“If the government is serious about supporting green vehicles, it must ensure that freight receives a fair share of funding, particularly given its key role in delivering the goods and services vital for the UK economy.”

FTA’s plea for funding follows the release of the latest figures from the government’s Low Carbon Truck Trial, with which a number of FTA members are involved and which the association says is providing “crucial feedback on the benefits and challenges of operating HGVs with gas.”

More than 350 gas HGVs are participating in the trial, most of which are using liquefied natural gas (LNG), with the remainder running on compressed natural gas (CNG) or cooking oil. The trial is also supporting 25 public refuelling stations.

Provisional results show 12 per cent tank-to-wheel carbon savings from dual fuel gas vehicles, and an average 44 per cent substitution ratio – the percentage of energy provided by the alternative fuel (gas or cooking oil) on dual fuel vehicles as opposed to the conventional diesel – with both figures expected to rise as fuelling infrastructure improves.

Dillon added: “Based on the results to date of this trial, we would urge the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, which is providing an overall £500 million funding package for ultra-low emission vehicles (2015-2020), to seriously consider a ‘green truck fund’ to enable more operators to utilise alternative fuels and low carbon technologies when the current trial ends in 2016.”

Meanwhile, FTA has also claimed that ‘clean’ fleet operator incentives such as discounted congestion charging could immediately improve air quality in the capital.

The call follows the London mayor Boris Johnson’s launch of an ultra-low emission vehicle delivery plan, which Rachael Dillon said would prove costly for the road transport sector, and therefore requiring of incentivisation. It includes a low emission commercial vehicle (LECV) programme, in which FTA is participating – which aims to accelerate development and uptake of low-emission CVs.

FTA lamented the fact that, while discounts have been available on the congestion charge for cleaner cars, there is no equivalent incentive for commercial vehicles.

“Low emission vehicles can offer fantastic benefits to helping the freight sector play its role in reducing pollutants and carbon, but high vehicle costs, concerns over reliability and lack of public refuelling infrastructure means that uptake remains relatively small,” said Dillon.

“FTA sees today’s announcement as a key opportunity for both Transport for London and the government to provide further incentives to enable fleet operators to make a business case for these alternative fuels and technologies. Why wait? This could be done straight away to improve air quality.”

Earlier this year, Johnson announced an ultra-low emission zone for central London, which is set to take effect in 2020. It will require vehicles travelling within the congestion charge zone to meet new emission standards at all times, or face daily charges.

Under the scheme, HGVs, buses and coaches will have to meet Euro 6 standards if their operators wish to avoid a £100 per day levy. Vans, minibuses and cars will face a smaller £12.50 charge if not Euro 6-compliant for diesel engines, or Euro 4-compliant for petrol engines.