The European Parliament has enacted a pivotal law targeting the reduction of emissions from heavy-goods vehicles (HGVs) by mandating nearly all new trucks sold in 2040 to be zero-emission. This ambitious policy aims to foster European competitiveness, significantly cut CO2 emissions, and bolster the transition to sustainable transport.
- Manufacturers are set to reduce emissions of new trucks by 45% by 2030, escalating to 90% by 2040, with similar goals for vocational vehicles.
- The law has garnered positive reception from environmental groups and sets clear guidelines for manufacturers amid international competition.
- The European Commission is tasked to explore synthetic fuels for trucks, alongside conducting a comprehensive review of the policy by 2027.
- Key industry stakeholders have endorsed alternative fuels, underscoring a need for both short-term emission reduction strategies and long-term sustainability initiatives.
The European Parliament’s landmark decision mandates that by 2040, nearly all new trucks sold must be zero-emission, a move expected to fundamentally transform the heavy-goods vehicle sector. This initiative aims to slash annual CO2 emissions from HGVs by 62% by 2050, compared to levels recorded in 1990, thus positioning European manufacturers to better compete with their foreign counterparts in the electric vehicle market.
Manufacturers face stringent targets: a reduction of average emissions by 45% in 2030, 65% by 2035, and an impressive 90% by 2040. Importantly, these targets will, from 2035, also apply to vocational vehicles such as garbage and construction trucks. Additionally, trailer manufacturers are required to enhance the emissions performance of trailers by 10% by 2030, while 90% of new buses are to be zero-emission by 2030, achieving complete zero-emission by 2035.
The law’s reception from environmental advocacy groups like Transport and Environment is notably positive, with the organization’s freight manager, Fedor Unterlohner, asserting that the legislation offers a clear path to zero-emission vehicle production. It provides essential long-term investment certainty for manufacturers, who face increasing competition from foreign electric vehicle producers. The legislative framework is deemed a compromise yet offers significant strides towards green transitions for one of Europe’s major polluting industries.
The European Commission plays a pivotal role, tasked with investigating the viability of synthetic fuels for trucks. This exploration is part of a broader requirement to review the impact and effectiveness of the new regulations by 2027, which will scrutinise potential extensions of the rules to smaller lorries and consider the introduction of a carbon correction factor to aid in the transition towards zero-emission HGVs.
Industry experts, like Todd Anderson from Phinia, highlight the importance of alternative fuels in the transition away from diesel. Anderson argues for a balanced approach that includes short-term solutions for internal combustion engines and long-term shifts to low and no-emission fuels. Anderson’s views align with ongoing developments in hydrogen internal combustion engines, suggesting they offer a pragmatic bridge solution leveraging existing infrastructure. However, he emphasises the urgent need for expanding the renewable hydrogen infrastructure to support these ambitions. This comprehensive approach reflects a commitment to reducing carbon emissions and achieving operational continuity during the transition.
Member of the European Parliament, Bas Eickhout, underscores the legislation’s dual importance: meeting climate targets and improving urban air quality. These actions provide clarity and a strong incentive for one of Europe’s most significant manufacturing sectors to invest in electrification and hydrogen. T&E’s forecasts suggest that by 2030, at least 31% of new trucks and buses will be zero-emission, rising to over 77% by 2040.
The European Parliament’s ruling on zero-emission vehicles charts a transformative path for HGVs, envisaging a sustainable and competitive future for the European transport industry.
