London, UK: New diesel and petrol lorries will be banned in Britain by 2040 under a “greenprint” to decarbonise all types of transport by 2050 but the Road Haulage Association has called it a “blue skies aspiration” with no basis in reality.
The government intends to phase out the sale of new diesel and petrol HGVs by 2040, subject to consultation. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says that the move, combined with the 2035 phase out date for polluting cars and vans, represents a “world-leading pledge to phase out all polluting road vehicles within the next two decades”
The consultation proposes a 2035 phase out date for vehicles weighing from 3.5 to 26 tonnes and 2040 for vehicles weighing more than 26 tonnes – or earlier if a faster transition seems feasible.
Rod McKenzie, policy director at the Road Haulage Association, said he supported the goal, but added: “These alternative HGVs don’t yet exist, we don’t know when they will and it’s not clear what any transition will look like. So this is a blue skies aspiration ahead of real life reality. For many haulage companies there are fears around cost of new vehicles and a collapse in resale value of existing lorries.”
However, Logistics UK is supportive of the proposals. Policy director Elizabeth de Jong said: “The Transport decarbonisation plan will help to provide logistics businesses with confidence and clarity on the steps they must take on the pathway to net zero. Consultation on proposed phase out dates for new diesel HGVs should enable business to move forwards with confidence.”
Sandy Parsonage, director of supply chain and logistics for Sainsbury’s, said: “We welcome the government’s ambition and look forward to engaging with the consultation. We are already working across our supply chain to explore alternative fuels and develop a zero carbon fleet of the future. At the same time, we’re investing to reduce the emissions across our current fleet. This ambition will accelerate efforts to develop the technologies the UK needs to achieve net zero.”
