Fury at new HGV emissions targets

By Carol Millett

The European Commission’s new CO2 targets for heavy goods vehicles have been criticised from all sides of the fence.

Under the rules, announced by the European Commission last month, HGVs will have to reduce their emissions by 45% by 2030 and 90% by 2040.

The targets have been criticised by businesses, manufacturers and environmental campaigners alike, who argue they are either not ambitious enough or fail to consider the provision of infra-

Haulage firm Nicholls and its client Knauf have unveiled the first of many new liveried trucks highlighting the CO2 savings generated structure to support the transition.

Lars Stenqvist, chief technology officer at Volvo Group, said the proposed legislation puts all the onus on the truck and bus manufacturers without a timeline for infrastructure provision.

European operators would need to buy an estimated 400,000 more zero-emission trucks, with at least 100,000 new zero-emission trucks registered every year.

Sigrid de Vries, director general of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) warned: “Given that charg- by the fleet of LNG trucks used to make the partnership’s deliveries.

The pair said that with Knauf emissions from its UK deliveries representing roughly 23% of all its Scope 3 emissions and the bulk of Nicholls’ Scope 1 & 2 emissions, cutting these was a priority for both organisations.

Knauf entered its partnership with Nicholls after Brian Moran, Knauf logistics manager, reviewed the company’s haulage partners and key contracts in a bid to cut emissions.

“They were already on a committed and defined sustainability journey,” he said.

“While we do still use diesel trucks for deliveries where distance and infrastructure for LNG isn’t viable, we are making the move to using more LNG trucks for our deliveries.”

Lockwood Group has joined the Palletline network, which the Midlands firm said would help it to reduce its final leg delivery area in DE postcodes.

ing stations that are suited to the specific needs of trucks are almost completely missing today, the challenge ahead is enormous.”

Conversely, environmental group Transport and Environment condemned the new targets as a “craven concession” to truck manufacturers, which will slow down the electrification of trucks.

It called for lawmakers to mandate a 65% cut in 2030, which it said was equivalent to the zeroemission sales goals already announced by Daimler Truck and Volvo.

Keith Allsop, Lockwood transport and warehouse director, said: “The company has a reputation for innovation and for going the extra mile to meet customer needs.

“Its values are very much aligned with our own and we look forward to being a fully fledged member as we start a new chapter in our journey.”

Family-run Lockwood Group was established in 1965 and has over 600,000sq ft of warehousing across seven sites, employs a 200-strong workforce and operates 86 vehicles with 219 trailers.