Tories attacked over plans to scrap 2035 diesel ban as EVs will make businesses 'more profitable'

Experts have slammed the Conservatives' plans to reverse course on the 2035 and 2040 deadlines to phase out polluting heavy goods vehicles.

The Tories have claimed that repealing the 2035 and 2040 diesel HGV phase-out dates would save the taxpayer £877million by ending grants for zero emission vans and trucks.

At present, the sale of heavy goods vehicles up to 26 tonnes that aren't zero emission will be banned from 2035, while all new HGVs must be zero emission by 2040.

The Conservatives have pledged to repeal these measures if they are voted into power, advocating instead for a multi-fuel approach to give hauliers greater choice.

Companies across the UK are already investing heavily in electric vehicles and infrastructure, while hydrogen fuel cells and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil vehicles are also becoming more popular.

Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden said the Conservative Party would trust businesses with the best approach, rather than Whitehall.

However, these plans have been criticised by the industry for failing to acknowledge the success of electric vans and heavy goods vehicles that are already on the road.

Speaking to GB News, Simon Smith, CEO of Voltempo, said: "The economics of electric HGVs are already becoming more compelling.

"They can deliver lower and more predictable operating costs, drivers prefer them and they offer important safety benefits."

Mr Smith outlined that hauliers across the UK were not asking the Government for money, but were rather asking for consistent policy.

This has been a key sticking point in the electric vehicle industry, with the Government performing U-turns on key policies in recent years, especially with taxes.

The recent announcement of pay-per-mile Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) was met with criticism from the sector, as many accused the Government of hammering the transition to EVs.

Mr Smith stated that clear policy aims would give the electric vehicle industry the confidence to make long-term investments in vehicles and charging.

He added: "That certainty will accelerate private investment and help build stronger, more profitable haulage businesses, while reducing their exposure to volatile global oil prices.

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"That's good for UK growth, good for hauliers and, ultimately, good for consumers through more stable costs of getting goods onto shelves."

Individual drivers and haulage companies are able to make significant savings on electric vans, trucks and lorries through various Government plug-in incentives.

Drivers can save up to £5,000 on large electric vans, while zero emission trucks weighing more than £81,000 can attract discounts of up to £81,000.

Toby Poston, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), said that a mandated purchasing trajectory was the correct approach for HGVs, as operators need "real backing" to invest.

He said: "Australia's shown one way to do that, using residual value guarantees so lenders and leasing companies can back electric trucks without carrying all the resale risk themselves, and that's the kind of practical idea we think deserves a proper look here too.

"Hitting the current phase-out targets is going to be genuinely hard without more innovative support and a used market focus."

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport rejected the claims from the Conservatives, describing some of the data as "unsubstantiated".

They continued, saying: "The HGV sector is vital to keeping our economy moving and growing, and we're determined to support it as it makes the switch to electric as vehicles become more reliable and affordable.

"Industry is already on board, rolling out thousands of these vehicles across the country - and we're investing £1billion to help businesses roll out clean trucks and vans and install depot chargers, building resilience against fuel price uncertainty."