APPG 2030 Ban

Fair Fuel APPG for UK Motorists and UK Hauliers August 2021 Page | 42 The Commercial Heartbeat of the UK feels more than threatened. Whilst most of the larger road haulage vehicles are not as yet, being threatened with a 2030 fossil fuel ban, it is worth noting that this vital sector to our economy and all our lives, has made great strides to lowering emissions, and continues to do so. The productivity and competitiveness of the UK economy is dependent upon having an efficient road haulage sector and road infrastructure that works for all users. It is important to remember that everything we eat, drink and wear depends on road haulage services. We would have no homes to live in or jobs to go to without trucks, and the companies and drivers that operate them. The vehicles are seen every day – but are misunderstood, and frankly so often wrongly demonised with ill-informed green driven anti-truck NIMBY political rhetoric. Their access to many parts of our cities is being impeded, slowed, and even blocked, for the same virtue signalling reasons hitting all fossil fuelled vehicles. The UK’s fifth largest employer and its environmental performance has been transformed; for example, the latest Euro 6 lorries are recognised by TfL as compliant with the Ultra-Low Emission Zone. Modern lorries are efficient and quiet. In the last decade exhaust emissions have been halved. The RHA is criticising Government over its plans for decarbonising the UK’s truck fleet. The association supports the eventual aim but says the plan is speculative, potentially damaging to business, and short on detail. RHA Chief Execut ive, R ichard Burnett said in response to the Government ’s Transport Decarbonisat ion plan: “This proposal as it stands is unrealistic. These alternative HGVs don’t yet exist – we don’t know when they will and what they will cost. It’s also not clear what any transition will look like – this is blue skies aspiration. For many haulage companies there are fears around cost of new vehicles and a collapse in resale value of existing lorries. The problem is even worse for coaches, which are more expensive to buy and have longer lifecycles. We support investment in vehicles to deliver Net Zero, but it requires coherent, affordable, and inclusive market-driven policies. Decarbonisation policies must support a thriving commercial vehicle sector to ensure the UK has a vibrant economy supporting people and businesses. The needs of SME businesses must be at the heart of Government ambitions, he added. “SMEs ensure the goods and services consumers demand are delivered affordably and on time. These are ordinary people without deep pockets who want to do the right thing.” Political dogma leading to a £trillion of debt. So, if we get this wrong and instigate the scrappage of perfectly serviceable cars, at the same time as achieving no social or health benefits, the strategy will lead to unforgivable inconvenience and cost for no benefit. We have seen the dreadful consequences of the deficient government policies that made 50% of us switch to diesel, only to be told we had to abandon those diesel vehicles. This sort of blundering policy development cannot be allowed to happen again. But it could happen if the current environmental agenda continues to be promoted without being founded in sound science. Rod McKenzie, RHA's Managing Director Policy and Public Affairs says: “Banning diesel trucks from all roads by 2040/2050 doesn’t make sense – because the alternative hasn’t yet been invented”