Former Openreach senior fleet innovation and vehicle consultant Simon Tory has called on the next Government to take a long-term view on transport policy.

Tory, who retired from Openreach two weeks ago, believes the current thinking is too short-term and also muddled with its emphasis on cars rather than light commercial vehicles, particularly on the subject of the environment.

“The policy is badly focused and a disincentive for companies like Openreach ,” he told a Fleet News roundtable, sponsored by Trimble. “The issue is LCVs, not cars, with the growth in home deliveries.

“On electric cars, the concern is about range – we don’t need range. We only need 50 miles per day but manufacturers give us vehicles with 100 miles per day. That increases the payload and reduces capacity.”

Many fleets are reluctant to invest in alternative fuels such as electric vehicles having been stung by LPG after the Government removed the incentives. They have created further problems by pulling the tax incentives on biofuels.

“We need a long-term policy from the Government to create the right environment. They have to put the confidence back into the industry after the LPG debacle,” Tory said.

“We need guarantees on incentives, infrastructure, tax, road pricing and congestion charging to be able to plan ahead with confidence.”
 

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