Transport Decarbonisation Plan – an overview

The UK Government published its long-awaited Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) earlier this month. This is a document with profound implications on how we will travel and how we will live our lives to achieve Net Zero by 2050.

As part of its agenda, the Government has launched a “genuine” consultation seeking views on when to end the sale of “non-zero emission HGVs” with a proposal that:
• sales of new non-zero emission HGVs less than 26 tonnes end in 2035
• sales of new non-zero emission HGVs greater than 26 tonnes end in 2040

This proposal may mean that no new LNG, CNG or any other alternative fossil-fuelled vehicles will be allowed from those dates.

You can respond to the consultation. Deadline: Friday 3 September.

Later this year the Government intends to consult on an appropriate date to end the sale of new non-zero emission buses and coaches.

Our initial view
We support the overall policy aim to decarbonise the UK transport fleet – and we’re studying the TDP and associated consultations in detail. We will share a comprehensive view of the plans in August.

Our approach is guided by the principles that the road to decarbonising our sector is affordable, sustainable, and embraces all business, including SMEs. We published our decarbonisation vision in April.

We will continue to seek reassurances from government that vehicles can be used for their full life cycle. For example: a vehicle put in service before 2040 can continue in use without penalties beyond 2050.

There are some things we are immediately seeking to clarify from the TDP. This includes the role of gas-powered trucks and the expectations on international haulage. For example: will there be zero emission capability (i.e. electric charging / hydrogen refuelling points) in the EU for UK hauliers to access? Will non-UK-registered hauliers be obliged to operate equivalent zero-emission trucks when in the UK?

RHA Chief Executive, Richard Burnett said this when ministers launched the TDP this week: “We support the eventual aim but the plan as it stands is speculative, potentially damaging to business, and short on detail. In particular, long-distance zero emission HGVs do not yet exist – we don’t know when they will and what they will cost.

It’s also not clear what any transition will look like – this is blue skies aspiration. For many haulage companies, there are fears around cost of new vehicles and a collapse in resale value of existing lorries. The problem is even worse for coaches, which are more expensive to buy and have longer lifecycles.”

The prize of a healthy commercial vehicle sector serving a vibrant economy which is investing sustainably in a Net Zero future will steer our response.