The Road Transport Forum (RTF) is welcoming a proposal to increase the use of biofuels in the transport industry and says the Government is not doing enough to support “tangible progress” on reducing carbon emissions.
That’s the message in the forum’s submission to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on a potential biofuels mandate.
The proposed mandate outlines key measures which includes requiring fuel suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transport fuels by a defined percentage each year with a 3.5% reduction target by 2025.
In its submission, the forum says biodiesel is a “simple drop-in solution” with guaranteed and significant reduction in carbon emissions.
“Our sector wants to play its part in reducing emission however we need the means to do that and biodiesel is one of the best short-term solutions to achieve that,” it says.
However, RTF chief executive Nick Leggett says the Government is not moving quickly enough on measures that can be introduced today as it waits for an “unobtainable nirvana”.
“Instead of waiting for the perfect heavy truck to be produced that meets their view of decarbonisation – which could be years away and is still largely, in fantasy land – the Government could be acting now with solutions that actually exist to reduce GHG,” Leggett says.
The road transport industry is already making “tangible progress” on reducing emissions through fuel efficient driver-training, reducing aerodynamic drag, speed management, tyre pressure management and software solutions, he says.
However, Leggett says the industry is “getting increasingly frustrated” that the Government is not making the most of such initiatives and is instead focused on “policy idealisms”.
“We have previously pointed out to the Government that biodiesel is a solution that could and should be available, and has been used in parts of Europe for several years.
“New Zealand’s trucks will move to using fossil fuel alternatives once those alternatives are available via reliable long-term supply, meet performance standards, and are cost competitive. Ultimately the market should decide the direction.
“It may be electric, hydrogen, biofuels, or a combination of all three, plus other solutions. But a full electric and/or hydrogen truck fleet, with reliable energy supply throughout the country, is a long, long way off.
“We believe the Government should provide support to industry wide and sector led initiatives, rather than its tendency to develop its own ideas or support niche products. This is not an area we can put all the eggs in one basket.
“The vast majority of expertise on the feasibility and viability of transport innovation lies within the market and transport sector leadership groups, not with Government,” Leggett says.
*The RTF submission can be found here.
