The Freight Transport Association has called on the government to give a seven year rolling guarantee for road fuel gas duty rates, as well promoting development of a national refuelling infrastructure on the main motorways.
In its Gas Manifesto, the FTA points out that LNG and CNG produce less harmful emissions than conventional fuel. However when biomethane produced from waste is used, carbon savings in excess of 60 per cent can be made when compared to an equivalent diesel vehicle.
Rachael Dillon, FTA climate change policy manager said: “To increase gas-powered hgvs on UK roads, government needs to support the development of a national refuelling infrastructure on main motorway routes to enable long distance trunking for vehicle fleets.
Working with a group of FTA members earlier this year, we identified 20 optimal locations for gas refuelling 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.”
John Lewis Partnership and UPS, both members of FTA’s Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme (LCRS) believe that biomethane represents a low carbon alternative to diesel.
Justin Laney, General Manager – Central Transport, John Lewis Partnership said: “John Lewis Partnership have a very ambitious target to reduce carbon emissions from our truck fleet. We believe that the best fuel to achieve that is biomethane gas. Biomethane is not only excellent for reducing emissions, it is also good for investment, jobs, and balance of payments.
“If the fuel duty differential between gas and diesel was fixed for a longer period, and Green Gas Certificates were allowed in transport carbon reporting, then two of the main barriers to adoption would be removed.”
And Peter Harris, director of sustainability, EMEA at UPS said: “Different parts of our operation require different strategies and solutions. For our HGV fleet on long distance routes the use of liquefied biomethane has great promise in terms of both reducing our carbon footprint and being economically viable.
“A long term strategy securing the availability of liquefied biomethane for transport purposes and also committing to the fuel duty differential between natural gas (specifically liquefied biomethane) 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.”
