£9.5m competition launched to support green trucks

The UK Government has announced a new scheme to support the development of carbon-cutting trucks.

Industry trials will now benefit from £9.5 billion invested by the Department for Transport and the Technology Strategy Board.

Truck operators are now being invited to bid for a slice of this funding as part of a competition which opens today.

The 'Low Carbon Truck Demonstration Trial’ will deliver fleets of low-emission heavy goods vehicles as well as supporting infrastructure such as fuelling stations and electric recharging hubs.

Transport Minister Mike Penning said: "This competition will help drive down emissions from trucks.

"These trials will show us how low carbon technologies perform day-to-day in the real world, providing vital data to build operator confidence in these green trucks and allowing us to make policy choices based on hard evidence.

"The investment in gas refuelling infrastructure will also give haulage firms a push to buy gas-powered HGVs - leaving a legacy that will support low carbon transport well into the future."

Competition entry criteria
Companies wishing to take advantage of the funding have until June 20 to bid for up to £750,000 each.

Trials will run for two years and data collected over this period will be used to inform Government policy on low carbon road freight.

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