Policy gaps on zero-emission for coach and bus need action: Zemo

Major gaps in policy around the transition to zero-emission for coach and bus must be filled if net-zero transport in the UK is to be delivered, a report from Zemo Partnership has said.

Published on 5 December, Delivery Roadmap for Net Zero Transport in the UK notes that while surface-based modes can make a major contribution to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, “much more action is needed to realise this potential.”

The roadmap has been created by Zemo to demonstrate how the government and the road transport sector working together can accelerate the transition to net-zero.

Key to that is expansion of the use of zero-emission vehicle and increasing the uptake of public transport, but wider adoption of low carbon fuels is also important. Incentivisation of the latter via the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation in its current state is described by the partnership as lacking in ambition.

What Zemo calls “unprecedented cross-sector collaboration” will be required to avoid damaging future policy turbulence. Investment in zero-emission technologies, including hydrogen, must be brought forward along with upgrading the UK’s electricity grid, building the skills base, and advancing ‘green finance’.

For bus, the policy momentum of recent years on the transition to zero-emission must be maintained, the roadmap says. While Zemo expects that the approximately 10% of the UK bus fleet that is zero-emission will grow to 20% by 2026-27, it wants measures to ensure that the rollout continues at such a pace.

BSOG reform – long promised in England but not delivered – should boost the business case for zero-emission buses, and the almost equally long-awaited end date for the sale of new non-zero-emission models should be set, Zemo says. It also advocates examination of whether the controversial zero-emission vehicle mandate should extend to buses.

Coach also comes in for attention in the roadmap. “Attention must turn to decarbonising coaches,” it notes. “Technology options are limited and support from government is non-existent.”

Despite that, the UK has “leadership potential” in zero-emission coaches. Grants are needed to encourage the supply of new models, with introduction of that funding by 2029 forming part of a timetable for action laid down by Zemo.

Download the Zemo Partnership roadmap here.