Last week, the industry gathered in Westminster for the fourth edition of SMMT’s flagship Electrified event, and it was packed to the rafters, showing that appetite for knowledge sharing on zero emission vehicles is at fever pitch. Commercial vehicles were front and centre with an electric HGV and LCV on display outside the conference while, on stage, a keynote speech and panel on HGV decarbonisation took a close look at the challenges our sector faces in the next decade and beyond.
A political keynote was provided by Minister for Future Roads, Lillian Greenwood MP, who commended SMMT for leading the industry for more than 120 years and urged industry continue its ambition to grasp the many opportunities that net zero offers. Economic growth, clean energy and improved living standards are all top priorities for government, but it knows that completing the green transition will not be easy.
From a light commercial vehicle perspective, the Minister confirmed the trajectory of the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate to 2035 is fixed, while recognising that perhaps the biggest challenge to decarbonising road transport will be the heavy vehicle freight sector. Recent announcements including the 50 heavy vehicle charging hubs funded through the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure (ZEHID) programme.
The transition is an international challenge, so it is fitting that Electrified attracts a global calibre line-up, with a keynote speech from Scania’s Senior Vice President and Head of e-Mobility, Fredick Allard. He said that while innovation can at times be two steps forward and one step back, an unwavering, long-term commitment to decarbonisation is necessary. The final destination will be reached, but the timeline depends on the actions that industry and government take, particularly until total cost of ownership parity between zero emission and internal combustion engine trucks is reached.
Heavy vehicles were represented on a panel by David Kiss, Managing Director of DAF Trucks UK, with the end of sale date for HGVs weighing less than 26 tonnes in 10 years’ time. Vehicle manufacturers across the commercial vehicle sector have invested heavily in new vehicles, so it is not an issue of supply but demand. Charging infrastructure to support the use of the greenest trucks to their full potential is a crucial step to provide operators with confidence to place orders for zero emission trucks.
Travelling over from Germany, meanwhile, Vice President Head of Regulation Strategy Trucks & Buses & International Hydrogen Strategy at Daimler Truck AG, Manfred Schuckert, made clear his confidence that industry is on the right pathway with the required technologies to solve the decarbonisation challenge. However, some segments – for example, off-road HGVs – will be harder to decarbonise than others and could take longer to achieve than the timelines set by existing regulation in Europe.
As the drive to net zero is gathers pace with competing powertrains, flagship events like this provide an opportunity to keep the industry informed, and perhaps more importantly, network with peers from industry around the world.
