ETI Insights Report - Heavy Duty Vehicles Overall Insights Report

Abstract:

In 2010, the ETI started a programme of work to investigate how to tackle the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of the HDV sector in the UK. The ETI has conducted an HDV efficiency programme, unique in its breadth and depth, that has attempted to deliver a meaningful impact on the fuel efficiency of the HDV fleet in the UK. This insight report discusses the land vehicle portion of the programme only, i.e. GVs, buses, rail locomotives, quarry machinery, construction machinery and agricultural tractors. The following can be concluded from the ETI Programme: The evidence, analysis and technology acceleration has influenced the powertrain research and development of Caterpillar, the world’s largest off-highway equipment manufacturer. Fuel efficiency gains can be achieved across a range of vehicle types and these gains can be financed by the fuel savings. In some instances, the payback period is acceptable to the first purchaser and, where they are not, the payback period is within the economic life of the vehicle. The 2025 EU HGV GHG reduction target is feasible, thus supporting the stringency of this target. More publicly available research should be conducted on HGV movements and payloads to enable better research, technology developments and policies in the future. Delivering double-digit powertrain fuel savings on HGVs is a significant challenge as their diesel powertrains are already well optimised for their motorway dominated usage cycle. Accelerating the implementation of lower-carbon fuels or energy carriers is the only practical way of delivering significant (i.e. above 15%) HGV GHG reductions in the mid to longer-term. This insight report summarises and integrates the ETI’s extensive portfolio of HDV decarbonisation projects. The decarbonisation narrative provided is intended to guide further work and drive action towards zero (or near zero) HDVs.

Publication Year:

2019

Publisher:

ETI

DOI:

No DOI minted

Author(s):

Thorne, C.