The Conservatives have announced plans to scrap Labour’s plans to axe the 2035 and 2040 dates to phase out the sale of polluting petrol and diesel heavy goods vehicles.
As part of the party’s plans to roll back all net zero measures, the Tories have announced a complete repeal of Labour’s 2035 and 2040 diesel HGV phase-out dates.
From 2035, the Government will end the sale of new heavy goods vehicles that are not zero emission up to 26 tonnes, while only zero emission HGVs will be on sale from 2040.
The Conservatives added that they would rule out new mandates that incentivise manufacturers or freight operators to make the transition to battery electric trucks.
It argues that the measures would have a “devastating impact” on the cost of transporting food or other essential goods.
While the Tories support the decarbonisation of freight, it states that other solutions could be used instead of “total electrification”.
Many companies are already using alternative methods to decarbonise their transport, with hydrogen fuel cells and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) being particularly popular.
A 2025 Logistics UK survey found that 79.3 per cent of respondents highlighted that an HGV electrification mandate would have negative impacts on their businesses.
The Conservative Party has slammed the Government’s plans to mandate the sale of zero emission vans and lorries
|
GETTY
In the second quarter of 2026, the number of new zero emission HGVs has grown by 4.7 per cent compared to the same time the year prior, with 90 new sales.
However, year-to-date sales show a 6.6 per cent decrease, compared to almost 18,000 diesel and alternative fuel HGVs sold between January and the end of July.
The Tories argued that electric heavy goods vehicles are more expensive than diesel equivalents, alongside longer waiting times when recharging and concerns around range.
Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden said: “Everyone wants to see emissions from Britain’s transport fleet reduced.
The Conservatives have vowed to scrap deadlines to phase out polluting heavy goods vehicles
|
GETTY
“But this should not come at the cost of an almost 19 per cent increase in the cost of transporting food and produce around the UK, hitting hard-pressed families in the pocket and hammering haulage businesses.”
The MP for Basildon and Billericay said the Conservatives could save £877million in planned spending on the Zero Emission Van Grant and Zero Emission Truck Grant.
Haulage companies can receive up to £81,000 off the price of a zero emission truck weighing more than 26 tonnes from the likes of DAF, Dennis, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Renault and Volvo.
Similarly, drivers can get a £2,500 discount for small vans, or £5,000 for large electric vans, as the Government attempts to accelerate the transition to zero emission motoring.
The Conservatives argued that scrapping grants for electric vans and HGVs could save £877million
|
PEUGEOTThe Conservatives claim that they are proposing a “common-sense change”, allowing for a transition through cutting emissions while keeping costs down.
Mr Holden added: “Labour are spending £877 million of taxpayers’ money chasing targets they plainly cannot meet.
“Their blinkered eco zealotry risks imposing huge costs on hauliers operating on wafer-thin margins, which will ultimately be paid by families at the checkout.
“The Conservatives will repeal Labour’s arbitrary phase-out dates, scrap unnecessary vehicle subsidies and back a multi-fuel future for British haulage. We will trust businesses, not Whitehall, to decide what works best for them.”