Policy & Compliance
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First practical steps to introduce electrically powered vehicles
One of the main criticisms of the UK government’s transport decarbonisation plan launched on 14 July this year was that the political ambitions far exceeded practical capabilities, particularly when it came to changing the motive power of a heavy goods vehicle. A core element of the decarbonisation plan was the prohibition of the sale of diesel powered vehicles weighing up to 26 tons from 2035 and for those exceeding that limit from 2040. On 27 July, the Department for Transport announced £20 million of funding for road trials to support the sectors’ transition to zero emission roadfreight. Using learning from field testing battery- electric vehicles in a real-world environment, and from undertaking feasibility studies, these activities will help to design and develop cost- effective, zero emission heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and their refuelling infrastructure right here in the UK. Successful projects to receive government funding include an ‘Electric Road System’ feasibility study, led by Costain Ltd, which is A number of projects have been announced in preparation for a potential demonstration of zero- emission freight technologies at scale on UK roads
considering a 20 km stretch of road near Scunthorpe for a possible trial of electric road systems. Electric Road Systems supply battery- electric trucks with electricity from overhead catenaries via a pantograph enabling HGVs to charge dynamically. There have already been successful trials of such technology in both the Netherlands and Germany. Hydrogen fuel cell Meanwhile, a hydrogen fuel cell feasibility study, led by Arcola Energy Ltd, will design a possible future trial of hydrogen fuel cell trucks and new refuelling infrastructure in Scotland. These projects, along with four other successful feasibility studies, aim to prepare for a potential demonstration of zero emission freight technologies at scale on UK roads and will support the rollout of zero emission technologies to decarbonise heavy transport vehicles.
Commercial vehicle manufacturing company Leyland Trucks will be deploying 20 DAF battery- electric trucks for use by public sector organisations to support the uptake of this technology, enabling learning to be gathered from field testing vehicles in a real-world, real- time logistics environment. The investment in an interactive tool will de- risk, aid and encourage fleet operators to convert to battery-electric vehicles. This is an important step in the transition to zero emission road freight. This announcement follows on from the launch of the UK government’s transport decarbonisation plan with the accompanying consultation: www.gov.uk/government/ consultations/heavy-goods-vehicles-ending-the- sale-of-new-non-zero-emission-models. It must be remembered that the UK government’s ambition is to use technology to help the UK to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
September 2021
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