New Report Charts Path to Net Zero Road Transport in the UK
A new report published by Zemo Partnership, titled Delivery Roadmap for Net Zero Transport in the UK, outlines the critical steps needed to decarbonize the country's road transport sector. Released in December 2024, the report emphasizes the urgency of moving beyond current government policies to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and address existing policy gaps, particularly in the heavy goods vehicle, van, bus, and coach sectors.
Key Actions Needed to Decarbonize Road Transport
While the UK government has made strides through initiatives like the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate and Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, Zemo's report calls for increased action, especially to stimulate demand for zero-emission vehicles. The report highlights the necessity of expanding support for cleaner transport technologies in various sectors, including passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and public transport.
For passenger vehicles, Zemo recommends reintroducing the Plug-In Car Grant, particularly for more affordable models, and providing grants for used electric vehicles. The report also suggests incentivizing the sharing of private chargepoints, which has shown positive results in Ireland. For commercial vehicles, a strategy to expand charging infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles along the strategic road network is deemed critical for progress.
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Targeting Bus and Van Sectors for Transition
The report also addresses how to make public transport more sustainable. Zemo proposes increasing the Bus Service Operators Grant for electric buses while tapering it for diesel buses until 2032. Moreover, to reduce the purchase of new diesel buses, the report recommends attaching conditions to operating licenses, which would require operators to transition to zero-emission vehicles within a set timeframe.
With these actionable policy prescriptions, Zemo aims to support the UK’s efforts to reduce road transport emissions and achieve its Net Zero goals by 2050.
