The European Union has confirmed it will bring forward legislation next year requiring CO2 emissions from new heavy duty vehicles (trucks, buses and coaches) to be certified, reported and monitored. Following this, it will consider a range of further measures, which are likely to include the further development of a modern infrastructure supporting alternative fuels for heavy-duty road transportation.
“We welcome this very positive move from the EU, it is critical we find ways to reduce the harmful emissions from heavy duty commercial vehicles, particularly in the UK where we are already struggling to hit long term air quality standards,” said CEO of Gasrec Rob Wood. The company currently supplies more than 60% of natural gas powered HGVs on UK roads.
“We encourage government, and the wider transport industry, to push for the faster development of a strategic supply network of LNG stations across the motorway network and the faster conversion of the country’s commercial heavy-duty vehicles to operate on dual-fuel or natural gas only. This fuel will enable operators to cut fuel costs and emissions, and will assist government to meet its long term carbon reduction targets,” he added.
Gasrec already has European funding to develop a network of ‘open-access’ Bio-LNG filling stations across the UK under a co-financing agreement with the EU’s TEN-T program. Under the agreement, the company is required to launch four new stations across the UK motorway network by the end of 2015. It will also develop a further two mobile stations in continental Europe and undertake a ‘pilot study’ for the development of similar sites and networks across mainland Europe.
Source: Gasrec
