Decarbonisation – RHA MD calls for Collaboration, Investment, Certainty and Clarity

The industry needs collaboration, investment, certainty and clarity on its decarbonisation journey, said RHA MD.

Richard Smith told Microlise Transport Conference delegates in Coventry that the Government and stakeholders must work together on a clear plan to realise Net Zero ambitions.

Collaboration is crucial. The list of stakeholders in making Net Zero work is formidable, including: operators, vehicle manufacturers, energy providers, financiers, insurers, consumers, central government, local authorities, devolved nations, EU and supply chain businesses. It’s vital that we work together to understand each other’s needs.

We’re determined that the needs of small businesses are understood and supported; they don’t have the buying power of corporations yet they’re integral to our economy in providing the highly-specialised and niche services that we need.

Investment will be needed and we’ll encourage our members to invest in zero-emission vehicles where it makes sense to do so. We need to see investment in infrastructure, skills provision and further research and development in vehicles – particularly hydrogen – so that all sectors within our economy are catered for during transition.

Our call for certainty is an ask of Government. There are a range of technological options to allow heavier HGVs and coaches to decarbonise whilst we develop zero-emission solutions. Low-carbon fuels such as HVO or CNG can substantially reduce emissions – by up to 90 percent. Yet our sector needs to know that these technologies are supported during the transition. No business is going to invest in, say, gas-trucks if the biomethane needed to power it is banned – leaving them with a “stranded asset”.

If we can achieve these asks then we’ll have clarity on how the end-goal is achieved and how to get there.