The government is reviewing the deadlines for the phasing out of diesel trucks as it looks at the picture for diesel vehicles in the fleet sector and beyond.
There have been calls from fleets and manufacturers to provide clarity on whether the deadlines were remaining as they are and the Department for Transport has confirmed that it’s looking into those deadlines now.
Under the current plans, diesel trucks weighing 26 tonnes or less will no longer be produced from 2035, while all heavier trucks will be phased out by 2040.
As we know from the current situation with EVs, manufacturers will likely begin the phase down earlier than this as they look to get ahead of the situation.
Diesel Truck Ban – What Does It Mean For Fleets?
The phasing out of diesel trucks is a specific part of the plan to phase out all petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles in favour of EV and alternative fuels.
While much of the attention has been focused on the 2030 deadline for most vehicles, the separate legislation for heavier vehicles mostly used by fleets is finally being discussed in detail by the government.
One of the biggest challenges in the transition to zero-emissions vehicles isn’t the vehicles themselves, but the infrastructure around it.
The availability of chargers, the power in the grid, charging time and the range of EVs are all significant factors that will affect fleets and private drivers alike.
But for fleets, particularly those regularly conducting long-range transit, it could cause significant issues for their timescales and turnarounds.
The UK has been behind in terms of its electricity requirements in recent years, which has made meeting the deadlines set by the government unrealistic.
However, there are concerns around what affect any changes have on meeting targets for manufacturers and for infrastructure improvements.
The Challenge Of Switching To Zero Emissions
One of the biggest problems with the transition to zero emissions vehicles is that it can’t be an individual decision.
Every fleet has considerations to make, including financial factors and their ability to deliver for clients.
The reality, though, is that that decision relies on so many external factors that no number of incentives can influence making that change earlier than planned.
Which means that the government needs to focus its energy on ensuring that plans are in place to improve the infrastructure and range for EVs in order to encourage more fleets to make the switch.
For larger vehicles, including HGVs and trucks, that becomes even more important, particularly on longer journeys where it could add significant time onto any one journey.
Do you think the current deadlines for the phasing out of diesel trucks and petrol, diesel, and hybrid vehicles need to be brought forward, pushed back or remain as they are?
And what do you think the government need to do in order to make the transition not only possible for fleets, but seamless and have little to no impact on the day to day running of your fleet? Let us know in the comments below.
