Brigg Town Council is supporting a very ambitious 'green' scheme to introduce electrically-powered, zero emission lorries to run along the M180 which passes the town.
If it eventually gets Government approval and is installed, this 'green' and eco-friendly system will see HGVs drawing their power from overhead lines, using retractable pantographs.
Coun Penny Smith who, as the Town Council's representative had attended a special presentation in Brigg's Angel building about this scheme, gave a detailed report of a session which also involved guests from other communities near the motorway.
She told town authority colleagues at their latest meeting (held on Tuesday) that our area had been identified for a multi-million pound national pilot scheme to tackle vehicle emissions and fossil fuel use.
It related to the transport 'corridor' between Immingham (beyond the M180) and Doncaster.
The catenary wire system would operate in a similar way to passenger-carrying trams (once a feature in many towns and cities, along with trolley buses).
In addition to drawing power from the wires, these lorries would also have supplementary diesel engines and batteries to power them when required.
"As you can see, there is a lot of work to be done," she told fellow councillors. "We have been chosen for this trial."
Benefits felt by Brigg would include removing diesel fumes near local schools.
"It will make a lot of difference to our little ones," she declared.
Coun Rob Waltham described this as a significant scheme in terms of emissions from HGVs.
The council agreed to send a letter of support to those behind the project, which involves a consortium of companies.
Read more about the £20-million 'electric truck trials' through this link...
Brigg Blog listened with great interest to Coun Smith's report.
When she mentioned trams and also Immingham, it immediately reminded us of an interesting piece of Lincolnshire transport history.
For many decades in the 20th century, a passenger-carrying tram system operated between Immingham and Grimsby - running through open countryside between the towns.
The cars drew their power from overhead lines, and at its peak this service was so busy that up to seven of these ran together.
Post-war, however, the route was reduced and latterly stopped short of the original terminus in Grimsby.
That heralded a sad decline which saw the entire service (run by British Railways) withdrawn in 1961 to be replaced by buses using fossil fuel.
If the M180 had to be closed temporarily for any reason - with traffic being diverted along the A18 through Wrawby, Brigg and Scawby Brook - the 'electric trucks' could switch to diesel or battery power once they left the motorway.
Other European countries are already well advanced with 'electric truck' projects and some manufacturers have designed suitable vehicles.
Fast-charging facilities provided at lorry parks for this new breed of HGVs would equal the power requirements of an entire town.
Coun Smith pointed out in her report that our region is a major one in terms of wind-generated renewable energy.
She mentioned Scania as a manufacturer which has already launched electric trucks (100 per cent emission free).
Following the Town Council's discussions, Scania kindly supplied Brigg Blog with the images seen here, showing examples of the new breed of HGVs with pantographs. Also pictured - Couns Penny Smith and Rob Waltham.
