FTA calls for ‘green truck fund’ to support operators

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is calling for a ‘green truck fund’ to help operators adopt environmental technologies.

The FTA has said that funding to date has primarily focussed on vans and cars, and that a fund specifically targeting trucks would support green technologies and encourage operators to adopt alternative fuels and low carbon technologies.

Rachael Dillon, FTA’s Climate Change Policy manager, said: “The majority of funding to date has been allocated towards cars and vans. If the government is serious about supporting green vehicles, it must ensure that freight receives a fair share of funding particularly given its key role in delivering the goods and services vital for the UK economy.”

A number of FTA members are involved in the Low Carbon Truck Trial, which is providing crucial feedback on the benefits and challenges of operating HGVs with gas. Data is being gathered to analyse emissions savings and the other benefits that gas HGVs can bring.

The trial involves more than 350 gas HGVs, with the majority using liquefied natural gas and the remainder using compressed natural gas. Additionally there are 10 vehicles running on used cooking oil.

The FTA says that biomethane and gas are important alternative fuels for long truck journeys where electricity isn’t a viable option.

Dillion added: “Based on the results to date of this trial, we would urge the OLEV which is providing an overall £500 million funding package for ultra-low emission vehicles (2015-2020) to seriously consider a ‘green truck fund’ to enable more operators to utilise alternative fuels and low carbon technologies when the current trial ends in 2016.”