ALL NEW UK HGVS TO BE ZERO-EMISSION BY 2040
The UK government has announced its plan to make all new HGVs sold zero emissions by 2040, as a commitment to the outcomes of Transport Day at COP26. The pledge has reinvigorated the driving force behind making all new vehicles on UK roads zero emissions by 2040.
The UK has become the first country in the world to commit to phasing out new, non-zero emission heavy goods vehicles weighing 26 tonnes and under by 2035, with all new HGVs sold in the UK to be zero emission by 2040. Following the example set by the UK, twenty-four countries, six major vehicle manufacturers (GM, Ford, Mercedes, BYD, Volvo, JLR), 39 cities, states and regions, 28 fleets and 13 investors all jointly set out their determination for all new car and van sales to be zero emission by 2040 globally to decarbonise the transport sector.
The Government’s decision to ban the sale of new diesel HGVs comes as new research from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, commissioned by the UK COP Presidency, showing 31% of the global passenger vehicle market is now covered by vehicle manufacturer commitments to end sales of fossil fuel-powered vehicles, up from a near zero share of the market at the start of 2021.
The study found that global sales of zero-emission vehicles has risen from 2.1 million in 2019 to 5.3 million this year and they are projected to make up 70% of all new car sales by 2040.
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Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “From our roads to the skies, the transition to zero emission transport has reached a tipping point. We know that transport plays a key role saving the planet from warming above 1.5°C, which is why this is the COP that will kick start our ambition for zero emission aviation and why I’m proud to be uniting world leaders to tackle climate change – creating new opportunities for clean growth, green jobs and improved air quality right across the globe. To support the transition to EVs, it’s integral that we have the infrastructure to support it. My vision is for the UK to have one of the best EV infrastructure networks in the world, with excellent British design at its heart.”