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Gas trucks too scarce for alternative fuels to thrive

28th November 2002
Page 20
Page 20, 28th November 2002 — Gas trucks too scarce for alternative fuels to thrive
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• by Robin Moczos The lack of gas-powered trucks has been cited at a recent conference as a key reason for peer take-up of alternative fuels.

Speaking at the recent Urban Delivery and Alternative Fuels Conference, Transport Under-Secretary David Jamieson stressed that government policy Is to encourage the take-up of alternative fuel vehicles. But he added: "Admittedly. there isn't a wide range of natural gas vehicles currently available."

Another speaker at the conference. organised by Commercial Motor's sister title. Motor Transport, was David Lemon, head of technical services at TransportEnemy. He also noted the lack of gas options, particularly at higher weights. Supporting Jamieson's call for greater take-up of alternative fuels, including electricity, CMG and LPG, he said that natural gas vehicles in particular had "substantial potential" for many operators, as well as qualifying for exemption from the London congestion charging scheme. But he reiterated that the lack of suitable vehicles was holding them back.

"We are hoping to see several new gas vehicles available in the next year based on the Cummins engine," he told the conference. "A few months ago we didn't even have the engines—now we have the engines but riot the vehicles."

Despite this, he said, there was "substantial opportunity" for gas vehicles in the UK. "Many in the food distribution sector in particular would love to get their hands on a 12-litre tractor engine and we're working like mad to coax these things out of various places in Europe and the UK. It's so difficult to get this to move."

Despite this, Lemon added, some of the biggest logistics operators in the country want gas vehicles. "There is a potential market for hundreds of vehicles out there," he concluded.

• Another reason take-up of gas vehicles is limited is uncertainty over government fiscal policy on alternative fuels. Jamieson admitted that he "couldn't honestly say" what the Chancellor might announce in his next Budget about the tax breaks and grants currently applicable to gas vehicles that are due to expire in 2004.

However, Jamieson said the current package of tax and grant incentives were "perhaps the most generous anywhere in Europe" and declared himself "confident" that the fiscal incentives would continue after 2004.

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Locations: London

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