As the new Prime Minister enters Downing Street, there will be no shortage of competing priorities.
But during this week which is Net Zero Week, I believe there is a simple question we need to ask: what will it take to decarbonise the UK’s commercial vehicle sector?
There are genuine reasons for optimism.
More than 1,100 electric HGVs are now on our roads, alongside over 114,000 electric vans, with numbers growing quickly. Charging infrastructure is beginning to emerge. Operators are investing, learning and, importantly, proving what can work in real-world operations.
When I speak to those early pioneers, the message is remarkably consistent. Start with the operation. Identify the routes where electric vehicles can work today. Learn. Adapt. Build from there.
That progress should give us confidence.
But we should not confuse progress with inevitability.
Decarbonising the lorries, coaches and vans that keep our economy and communities moving will require significant investment, long-term confidence and much stronger coordination between government and industry.
For me, there are four immediate priorities for the new Prime Minister.
• Infrastructure certainty. Publish the long-promised HGV and Coach Infrastructure Strategy so operators can understand where, when and how the energy infrastructure needed for zero-emission vehicles will be delivered.
• Regulatory certainty. Give businesses a clear and viable direction of travel, but ensure regulation reflects operational reality. A one-size-fits-all approach will not work across such a diverse sector.
• Reform vehicle weight regulations. Moving to 46 tonnes and 12.5 tonnes on the drive axle would help address the very real payload penalties facing the heaviest electric HGVs.
• Fair funding for coaches. Coach operators need meaningful support equivalent to that available for zero-emission trucks. They cannot be left behind in this transition.
It is exciting what is happening across our industry. The technology, engineering and innovation have the potential not only to transform commercial transport, but also to inspire a new generation of people to build careers within it.
And we should remain open-minded about the future role of hydrogen, particularly for some of the hardest-to-decarbonise long-distance, heavy and abnormal-load operations along with other relevant fuels.
At the RHA, we will continue to play our part. Our Future of Fleets work and Payload Loss Survey Report have helped build the evidence base. Next, we are looking more deeply at the green skills required for the transition and the energy infrastructure the sector will need.
Our message to the new Prime Minister is straightforward:
Work with the industry. Listen to operators. Create the right conditions for investment and the economy to grow and recognise that ambition must always be grounded in operational and commercial reality.
Net Zero will not be delivered by targets alone.
It will be delivered by businesses having the confidence, infrastructure, and financial ability to invest.
As always comments welcome.
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