As RHA asks coach operators to help mould its future net-zero policy by means of a survey, the body has urged them also not to delay thinking about the challenges ahead.
The RHA Net-Zero Survey 2025, which closes on 15 April, is designed to help RHA “prioritise and quantify” issues around decarbonisation for the coach and HGV industries.
The exercise could help focus the minds of operators who believe the era of zero-emission coaches is too far away to consider.
Chris Ashley, Head of Policy – Environment and Regulation, understands that view but adds: “For me there is an issue about planning the journey to net-zero.
“At this stage, that’s what I would be looking for businesses to do. To understand what stage they are at in their planning.
“It could well be that quite a few are not yet at that point. There may well be some that are. The point is, you need to start thinking about planning, if nothing else – not just blank it out.”
Mr Ashley says the survey has had a good mix of responses between PSV and haulage.
With results due this month, he hopes it can inform future conversations with the government and other stakeholders.
It highlights five key challenges and feedback will help determine which are prioritised.
Highlighting infrastructure as being among the biggest issues along with cost, Mr Ashley also comments on the recent announcement of locations for 54 charging hubs as part of the government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme.
“I am clear that coaches should be able to access these sites, and an action point on behalf of our membership is to join those dots so that coach operators are clear as to how and when they can,” he says.
ZEHID development is part of a promising trend, he says, adding: “We see it as acting as a catalyst for further investment by private operators.”
Fill in the RHA Net-Zero Survey 2025 survey here.
