Drive to ban new diesel HGVs by 2040

ALL new diesel and petrol lorries should be banned from sale by 2040 to cut air pollution, the Government’s infrastructure body has said.

HGVs need to switch from using fossil fuels to battery or hydrogen power over the next 20 years in a ‘bold’ push to make the UK’s road and rail-based industry carbonfree, the National Infrastructure Commission said.

Without action, freight could churn out a fifth of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, up from 9 per cent now. The Road Haulage Association said any new technology must be cost-effective.