The road haulage sector is calling for the new government’s urgent attention to investment in infrastructure for electrical trucks. They point out that there is only one public charging station for HGVs across the UK.
According to Zapmap, the number of electric vehicles is on the rise. There are currently 1.1 million fully-battery powered cars in Britain and 63,000 charging stations at 33,000 different locations.
The Road Haulage Association says that the haulage sector is far behind. Only 300 electric HGVs are registered in the country, out of a 500,000-strong fleet.
The RHA surveyed the country and found that there is only one public charging station where lorries are able to charge. The charging point is at a service area at Rivington on the M61 Southbound, about half way between Manchester and Preston.
Chris Ashley, RHA’s policy lead for environment and vehicles, stated that action was required. He said that all the worries people have about cars, such as whether it is raining or whether the air conditioners are on, also apply to trucks. The weather and the weight of the truck will determine the answer.
“A good average range for a truck powered by diesel would be about 600 miles. There are caveats, of course.” “We believe that a public charging system is essential,” he said.
According to RHA, according to research 70% of British electric truck owners return to their depots to recharge overnight. Batteries make it impossible to travel long distances, so most electric trucks only deliver within a 50 to 80 mile radius.
Due to their size and weight, trucks can only travel 200 miles on a single battery.
polls predict that Labour will win this week’s elections.
The group wants the new government to create a network of charging stations for large trucks, to speed up the planning processes “gummed-up in the larger planning process” and to offer financial incentives to small and medium businesses for making the switch to electricity.
Trucks can’t be charged outside of truckers’ homes. Companies with large fleets might need to install substations in order to meet the energy needs, since trucks require at least 150KW, while cars only need 22KW.
Chris Pritchett of Shoosmiths and partner in the energy and mobility department, said that it was “critically important” for the government to develop the right strategy and install charging units at the correct places.
It may be necessary for energy and haulage companies to coordinate the scheduling of units at motorway station.
Pritchett said that it would require an almost utopian level collaboration. The way forward for electric vehicles is much more complex and nuanced than it was with passenger cars.
The shortage is being addressed. Gridserve, an energy company, is leading a trial backed by the government to deploy 200 chargers that can deliver 350kW.
Ashley said, “We need momentum to see the decarbonisation snowball.”
According to the current plan, all diesel and petrol heavy-duty vehicles (HGVs) weighing 26 tonnes and less will be phased out by 2035.
Before the elections, the Department of Transport made no comments.
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