Leading cities to discuss alternative fuels for heavy duty transport

31 January 2018

Members of HyER will meet to discuss the move to alternative fuels for heavy duty road transport at a day-long conference in Brussels today (Wednesday 31 January).

HyER, the European Association for Hydrogen and fuel cells and electro-mobility in European Regions (formarlly HyRaMP), was established in collaboration with the European Commission in 2008. It is a membership association of 16 cities and regions across ten Member States committed to the introduction of these technologies and the transition to zero-emission transport and energy systems.

The Lord Provost of Aberdeen Councillor Barney Crockett is the President of HyER and will address the conference. He will talk about the work of HyER and why the decarbonising of heavy duty road transport is important for cities and regions and the challenges facing members today.

Heavy duty trucks represent a large share of emissions from the transport sector in Europe and members of HyER will debate how to manage the shift in the heavy duty transport sector to alternative fuels such as hydrogen, battery electric, compressed natural gas (CNP), liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

More than 90 people have registered for the event which will see participants come from the industry, from the public sector and EU institution, as well as from consultancies and associations.

The conference will look at:

What technological solutions are being offered by manufacturers? Which technology is better adapted to which needs? How to manage the shift to alternative fuels for the users? How to implement the change? What is developed in terms of policy at the EU level? What is the Commission expecting from the manufacturers and the operators? Will there be emission reduction targets for heavy duty vehicles? What policies are needed to help to push for the transition to alternative fuels? What funding mechanisms are available at EU level?

Aberdeen City Councillor Barney Crockett said: “Cities and Regions have a key role in procuring zero emission vehicles and in the development of policies to fight climate change and improve air quality.

“Legislation at EU and national level to control emissions from heavy duty trucks means that cleaner trucks must be introduced and alternative fuel vehicles need to be part of the solution.

“Being part of HyER Aberdeen is at the forefront of looking at current challenges, the solutions offered by the industry, how to accelerate their deployment and development.

“We have made great progress with zero emission buses and cars and we now need to make the same progress with heavy duty transport.”

For more information on HyER visit www.HyER.eu