Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood has announced plans for 54 new charging and hydrogen refuelling hubs for zero emission HGVs.
But while this is a significant investment in infrastructure, business group Logistics UK is challenging why the government continues to overlook the role of low carbon fuels in helping the UK achieve its decarbonisation goals.
Their UK Deputy Director of Policy Michelle Gardner said their members are fully committed to decarbonising and many are already trialling or have adopted alternative fuels and technologies to help achieve net zero.
“The industry is technology neutral in its approach and will adopt any solution that is operationally and commercially viable,” she said.
“However, significant barriers remain on the journey to net zero for all transport modes, and it must be recognised that it will take considerable time for zero emission technologies to be fully adopted and integrated into the logistics system.
While the long-term goal is zero emission technologies, LCFs can play a key role in the interim
“While the new charging and refuelling hubs for HGVs are welcome, infrastructure will be needed at scale to keep our industry and the goods we deliver moving across the country and around the world.”
As a result, urgent support must be given to the use and production of low carbon fuels (LCFs) across logistics transport, she said.
“While the long-term goal is zero emission technologies, LCFs can play a key role in the interim. Fuels such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) can be used in diesel engines without any modifications meaning the industry could effectively reduce carbon emissions by 80% overnight.”
The company, is one of the sector’s biggest business groups, said this was important because more than seven million people are directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods.
It adds that, with decarbonisation, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important.
Related
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The Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrations programme
