London, UK: The government has launched a £200m programme to roll out 370 zero-emission trucks and 57 refuelling and electric charging sites in a bid to “decarbonise” road freight.
The government say HGVs contribute 20% to all transport emissions in the UK. The £200m funding will be spent on four green projects to roll out up to 370 zero-emission HGVs and “help set road freight on the path towards net zero”.
Delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, the funding will also also deliver around 57 refuelling and electric charging sites. The funding is expected to help companies, such as Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer, lower their transport emissions while protecting them from rising delivery costs associated with changing petrol and diesel prices. This could help prevent price hikes across supermarkets, allowing people to save money on food and groceries to help with the cost of living, says the government.
An additional £2.4m has also been unlocked through the second round of the Freight Innovation Fund. As part of the fund, the FIF Accelerator – open for applications from 19 October – will help up to 10 small and medium enterprises develop new ways to make freight greener, more efficient and more resilient. The £7m, three-year FIF aims to scale up and roll out innovative technology across the industry to decarbonise freight. It is at the heart of the Future of Freight Plan, which aims to help the industry improve planning, boost innovation in data and technology and facilitate the transition to net zero.
The first round of the FIF supported projects, including one to deploy zero-emission technology to track and move freight across London. Roads minister, Richard Holden, said: ”From boosting zero emission tech across freight to attracting the future generation of talent to the industry, we are working hard to drive innovation, create jobs and grow the economy by building a brighter, more innovative future for one of our most crucial industries.”
Kate Jennings, director of policy at Logistics UK, said: “Logistics underpins every sector of the UK economy and it is positive to see its importance being championed during Freight Week.
“As an industry committed to decarbonising, we welcome the investment through the FIF, as well as the outcome of the zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme.”
