The SMMT and several truck manufacturers believe the best way to increase sales of more environmentally friendly trucks and vans is to reward their useage.
Tony Pain, MD at Daf, says: "There is good evidence that incentivising cleaner and more efficient vehicles works.
"Look at the popularity of the Reduced Pollution Certificate (RPC) that
expired this October. Truck registration figures rose as operators looked to cash in on the VED tax break."
Iveco has called on the government to restart the RPC scheme to include EEVs (Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicles). Martin Flach, Iveco product director, says: "The EEV standard lies somewhere between Euro-5 and Euro-6 and we've urged the government not to drop the RPC altogether, but rather to change it in a way that it still encourages people to buy EEVs."
While no formal documents have been submitted to the government regarding revitalising incentive schemes, the SMMT backs the principle of rewards and rebates for less-polluting commercial.
Robin Dickeson, manager of CV affairs at the SMMT, says: "It will be difficult to incentivise Euro-6 because the deadline is so close [2013] and manufacturers are still developing those products."
He adds: "Incentives are good, provided
they are tailored the right way."
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