Peterborough, UK: NOx emissions from HGVs has been slashed by around 70% since 2013, according to estimates from the Road Haulage Association. It predicts that NOx will have fallen by 80% in 2026 in its NOx Emissions Assessment 2023.
The improvements can largely be attributed to the introduction of cleaner Euro VI trucks onto the UK’s roads in the last decade, the RHA says. Greater adoption of alternative fuel and battery-charged trucks in the years ahead could see even greater reductions, it says.
Some 19% of UK NOx emissions came from road transport in 2021 – and less than 15% of that figure came from commercial vehicles. However, Euro VI trucks are more expensive than Euro V – the RHA estimates that the industry has spent £2.2bn on upgrading fleets in ten years with an asset value loss in non-Euro VI vehicles of £1.2bn.
The RHA argues that lessons should be learned from clean air zone policies where vehicle life cycles and the needs of small and medium-sized companies have largely been ignored. Chris Ashley, RHA policy lead for environment and vehicles, said: “It’s vital that policy makers understand there are other factors that must be dealt with. Most pressing is how we manage our road networks to minimise congestion where there’s high pollution. This requires a fundamental change of approach nationally and locally.”
