Government announces 200 million pound funding for zero-emission HGV's
It was announced in Birmingham.
The Government has announced a 200 million pound drive to get more zero emission trucks onto the roads.
The project in Birmingham is expected to create up to 200 jobs by 2030.
Speaking during a visit to an energy park in the Tyseley area of the city on Wednesday, roads and local transport minister Richard Holden said: "What we are seeing today is the Government really putting a massive down payment on UK freight.
"This is ÂŁ200 million which is going in to really help the economy because it's going to do two things - one, it's going to help decarbonise our transport infrastructure, something that we really need to do.
"Secondly, it's going to be providing hundreds of new high-quality jobs here in the UK, including 200 over the next few years here in Birmingham."
Heavy goods vehicles alone are estimated to contribute around 20 percent of all transport emissions across the UK.
Announcing the ÂŁ200 million funding boost on Thursday, Mr Holden said: "Freight and logistics are the beating heart of our economy and it is only right that we celebrate the sector so that it gets the recognition and support it deserves.
"From boosting zero emission tech across freight to attracting the future generation of talent to the industry, we are working hard to drive innovation, create jobs and grow the economy by building a brighter, more innovative future for one of our most crucial industries."
The funding will be invested across four green projects, including the initial deployment of around 30 hydrogen fuel cell HGVs onto the M4, to roll out up to 370 zero-emission HGVs and deliver around 57 refuelling and electric charging sites.
Birmingham-based Voltempo, a leading developer of new technology for electric vehicles, will use its share of the funding for the "eFREIGHT 2030" project to provide the city with one of the UK's first electric vehicle charging hubs dedicated to HGVs.
The funding will help companies such as Sainsbury's and Marks and Spencer lower transport emissions, while protecting them from rising delivery costs associated with fluctuations in petrol and diesel prices.
Richard Smith, managing director of the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said: "We strongly welcome today's announcement. Our members support net zero, but maintaining the high levels of service the public expect from logistics using untested vehicle technologies carries significant risk.
"The Ă‚ÂŁ200m commitment ministers are putting into this demonstrator significantly helps to de-risk the transition to net zero.
"The real-world demonstrators will answer many of the practical questions operators have and, in turn, give our members the confidence to invest in the zero-emission lorries needed to drive down carbon emissions from our sector."