Major electric vehicle update expected 'in due course' alongside massive £200million spending boost
The Government told GB News that an announcement would be made 'in due course'
REUTERS/PA
A new electric vehicle update could be delivered in the near future as the new Labour Government takes action to help motorists switch to greener and cleaner forms of transport.
In 2023, the Government launched a call for evidence which looked at the current and future supply, uptake and use of zero emission heavy goods vehicles and coaches across the UK.
It stated that the Government was developing a zero emission HGV and coach infrastructure strategy for publication in 2024, which it has yet to deliver.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport confirmed to GB News that further details will be given in the near future, as well as a funding boost.
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Two new 37-tonne fully-electric HGVs were added to Amazon's delivery fleet in 2022
PA
They added: “We are encouraging the uptake of zero emission heavy goods vehicles, by supporting their roll-out with £200million of funding and will set out more plans in due course.”
The Department for Transport is investing up to £200million to introduce hundreds of zero emission HGVs across the UK over the coming years as part of the zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme.
Decisions on a further strategy for charging and fuelling infrastructure for zero emission heavy goods vehicles and coaches will be made in due course.
Plug-in vehicle grants are still available for trucks, as well as for wheelchair accesible vehicles, motorcycles, vans and taxis.
Small trucks can a maximum discount of £16,000. These must be between 4,250kg and 12,000kg gross weight, have CO2 emissions of at least 50 per cent less than the equivalent conventional Euro VI vehicle and be able to travel at least 96km (60 miles) without any emissions.
Large trucks see a total discount of £25,000 and be heavier than 12,000kg. Motorists have a far larger selection of large trucks to choose from, including from major brands like DAF, Dennis, Mercedes-Benz, Renault and Volvo.
In total, there are three eligible vehicles for the small truck grant, with two further vehicles which are incomplete. Seven large trucks are eligible, although a further seven are still incomplete.
In November 2021, the Government confirmed its intention to end the sale of new non-zero emission HGVs weighing under or equal to 26 tonnes by 2035.
The Tesla Semi is one of the most well-known electric trucks
TESLA
A further deadline will see all new HGVs sold to be fully zero emission at the exhaust by 2040 - 10 years before the UK's net zero deadline.
This is alongside the current deadline to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2035, although this could soon be moved back to 2030.
While the call for evidence ended on December 14, 2023, the Department for Transport said it aims to publish a zero emission HGV and coach infrastructure strategy this year.
The original call also looked at the viability of organisations using hydrogen fuel cells to power larger vehicles for extended periods of time on the road.
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Some industry experts are hoping that hydrogen vehicles will continue to be developed for longer-haul transport
GETTYA Hydrogen Strategy Delivery Update from December 2023 found that there were approximately 265 vehicles including buses, HGVs, vans and cars on UK roads.
While experts have pointed out that the UK is seriously lacking in the required refuelling infrastructure, it is hoped that technological advancements in the coming years will help further decarbonise transport.
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