Research form UK Government statistics have proved a point worth hearing – road transport operators have slashed NOx emissions from trucks by at least 59 percent in only six years.
The British Department for Transport figures show a continual year-on-year decline since 2013 and the Road Haulage Association (RHA) predicts the industry will have reduced its NOx output by at least 80 percent by 2025.
The RHA stated said that the road haulage industry’s £1.9bn investment in Euro 6 vehicles is driving the huge reduction as it publishes its annual NOx Emission Assessment from heavy goods vehicles today.
Welcoming the report, Chris Ashley, the RHA’s head of policy on the environment, said the latest assessment shows what can be achieved when well-designed standards, in this instance Euro 6, are phased in sustainably. “As the Government’s ‘green recovery’ agenda gathers pace we believe this positive experience can be applied to the decarbonisation agenda.
Hauliers are willing to invest in the technology needed for a clean environment but they must have confidence that the regulatory framework will not retrospectively undermine that investment.”
“Imposing high charges on technology deemed ‘obsolete’ without first checking there is a sufficient supply of the desired technology is a recipe for disaster. It leads to stranded assets, market distortion and waste, he added.