One clear takeaway with trade show season is back in full swing following the summer break is the gathering pace and growing diversity of longer distance zero emission vehicle launches. Last week at CENEX at Millbrook, we saw the launch of a new hydrogen single decker bus while, in Europe this week, a new battery electric truck capable of up to 600km on a single charge has been announced. Such innovations by manufacturers make clear that zero emission interregional and long-distance operations – without having to charge or refuel during a full day of driving – are increasingly available for transport businesses to invest in.
The sooner that operators explore the possibilities of going green, the better placed their business will be for the future, with an ambitious end of sale of non-zero emission HGVs coming as early as 2035 while a rising number of local authorities are considering how their region can switch to zero emission buses. Events like the Commercial Vehicle Show are crucial to helping operators build their awareness of the very latest vehicles and technology, and good news came from the Show this week with the announcement of new Event Director Mike Costain, as part of plans bring a reinvigorated strategic vision. Mike has a proven track record in event management having successfully launched, organised and grown large-scale events during the past 25 years and, alongside the Show’s new strategic partner Nineteen Group, now is a hugely exciting time for the event.
With the industry investing in new electric and hydrogen technology that will meet the UK’s long-term ambitions to decarbonise, the UK also needs a legislative agenda that makes using these vehicles possible for everyone. That includes mass road transport, and the Better Buses Bill laid before parliament this week can help do that, with a package of measures that empowers local leaders across the country to deliver services that suit their region’s needs. All local transport authorities across England will be given new powers to run their own bus services, like London and Manchester, and given those two cities are among the leading locations for zero emission bus rollout, it is possible that the new Bill can drive decarbonisation nationwide.
As SMMT set out in a recent report, however, modernising transport infrastructure is also essential. The UK already has the largest zero emission bus market in Europe so now we need the chargepoints and hydrogen refuelling stations, not just at depots, but shared hubs and en-route locations which can be used by trucks and vans too – unlocking decarbonisation the whole commercial vehicle sector.
