Over 30 transport industry leaders and campaigners are urging the government to cut fuel duties on diesel alternatives for heavy goods vehicles.
In an open letter to transport minister Jesse Norman, the experts argue that price reduction in renewable dies fuel such as hydrotreated vegetable oil can be achieved without increasing bills for the taxpayer, while encouraging operators to switch to sustainable alternatives by creating tax incentives.
The letter, led bio Green Biofuels, stated: “While some incentives do exist in the UK, these do not achieve price parity with diesel. As such, we believe your department, in collaboration with the Treasury, should look at reducing duties and creating tax incentives to catalyse the switch to renewable diesel.”
HVO is a “‘drop-in’ replacement for diesel,” the letter continues, as it doesn’t require vehicle modifications and can be used in diesel engines immediately.
“When compared to fossil diesel, HVO sees GHG reductions of up to 90%; NOx emission reductions of up to 20%; and particulate matter (PM) emission reductions of up to 80%,” it added.
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As reported by Business Green, Green Biofuels director of sustainability Julian Keites said: “Sustainable alternatives to harmful diesel fuels – used particularly in heavy goods vehicles, trains and maritime – have a vital role to play in rapidly cutting greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality.”
Letter signatories include infrastructure contractor Skanska and hauliers JW Suckling Transport Limited and Enjoy the Air CEO Kate Barnard.
“The collaboration of support shown by uniting these diverse range of business leaders and environmental campaigners demonstrates the positive and practical role advanced biofuels play in the future of the UK’s transition to net-zero,” added Keites.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport did not comment directly on the proposals set out in today’s letter, but said the government had taken “a multi-layered approach to greener transport covering not just electric vehicles but greener fuels too”.
“Having been supported by government for over a decade, greener fuels are already delivering about a third of all domestic transport carbon savings,” they said.
