UK Freight Transport Association asks the government to invest in NGV infrastructure

FTA’s Gas Manifesto supports the development of a national refueling infrastructure on the main motorway networks. For smaller operators, public refueling stations would give confidence to invest in natural gas-powered HGVs as part of planned vehicle replacement cycles as well as benefit larger companies. The Treasury also urgently needs to confirm at least a seven year rolling guarantee for road fuel gas duty rates to provide certainty to support vehicle and infrastructure investment.

“Natural gas is a credible option for industry to make serious reductions in carbon emissions whilst serving the needs of the economy in delivering goods and services. Working with a group of FTA members earlier this year, we identified 20 optimal locations for refueling infrastructure. Government needs to give greater consideration to the requirements of the operator, and ultimate purchaser, of low carbon vehicles to shape policy that benefits rather than hinders investment,” said Rachael Dillon, FTA Climate Change Policy Manager

Moreover, Peter Harris, Director of Sustainability, EMEA at UPS commented on the FTA request: “A long term strategy securing the availability of liquefied biomethane for transport purposes and also committing to the fuel duty differential between natural gas and diesel would provide us with both the means and the confidence in the economics for further investment and future deployment of additional gas fueled vehicles.”

Source: Freight Transport Association