PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(18 June 2026)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2026 to Question 8838, what estimate her Department has made of the average total cost of ownership of (a) a diesel heavy goods vehicle and (b) an equivalent zero emission heavy goods vehicle over the operational lifetime of the vehicle.

Asked by:
Rebecca Smith (Conservative)

The total cost of ownership is expected to fall over time as vehicle prices decline and battery energy density improves. As these trends continue, battery electric HGVs are projected to become cheaper to operate than diesel across many duty cycles, strengthening the commercial case for transition while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions, cutting harmful air pollution, improving public health and protecting the natural environment.

The government is reducing the cost of zero emission vehicles and associated infrastructure required to support the transition to zero emission through grants like the Depot Charging Scheme and Zero Emission Truck Grant.

Answered by:
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