The funding includes £6.5m for a low-emission goods-vehicle demonstration trial, plus the supporting infrastructure for trial vehicles, with a further £1.5m targeted funding for public gas-refuelling hubs.
According to a statement, extensive work with industry has shown that there are market barriers to the uptake of low-emission HGV technologies such as hybrid, electric and gas. Consequently, Britain lacks a UK manufacturing base in these technologies.
These barriers are said to centre around a lack of industry confidence in the technologies and an unwillingness to take on the risks of investment.
Facilitating investment in these technologies and their supporting infrastructure — and encouraging and assisting UK operators to buy and use low-emission medium- and heavy-goods vehicles — will develop an early-stage market for the technologies. This will help ensure the development of a UK manufacturing base that can compete in the international low-emission vehicle market.
The investment will be channelled through a funding competition managed on behalf of the Department for Transport by the Technology Strategy Board.
First seven members join NG’s Great Grid Partnership
So in addition to (as seems likely) Great British Energy & Great British Railways we also have the Great Grid Upgrade To me, this rather … grates?