Mega trucks in Europe: a curse or a blessing?
The sight of huge, powerful lorries on Europe's motorways could soon become a reality. The European Parliament recently passed a measure that could make it possible to allow so-called "mega trucks" on the roads of EU countries. But what does this mean for the climate? Can these giants really reduce emissions from freight transport?
Currently, a lorry in France may be a maximum of 18.75 metres long and weigh a maximum of 44 tonnes. If the measure goes through, we could soon see lorries with a length of 25.25 metres and a weight of 60 tonnes on our roads. These mega trucks would consume around 30% more fuel, but they could also transport more goods. The CO2 emissions per tonne transported would therefore be lower.
But the maths is not that simple. The higher the payload, the lower the reduction in CO2 intensity. The CO2 saving of a 60-tonne truck compared to a 44-tonne truck is just 5 per cent. The real advantage of mega trucks is therefore not for the environment, but for the economy. Freight transport could become 20% cheaper, mainly due to the reduced need for drivers and lorries.
However, these economic advantages could quickly lead to so-called rebound effects, which would cancel out the climate benefits. The demand for means of transport could increase due to the lower costs and rail as a low-carbon alternative to road freight transport could be abandoned in favour of road transport.
However, the problem of mega trucks goes beyond the climate. Longer braking distances and larger blind spots jeopardise safety. The current infrastructure is not designed for such gigaliners. Sweden had to invest more than 500 million euros in infrastructure between 1988 and 1998 after the mega trucks were authorised.
The authorisation of 60-tonne trucks is primarily an economic and not an ecological measure. The benefits for the climate are minimal and are disproportionate to the potential dangers of rebound effects and the increased competitiveness of diesel engines.
The introduction of mega-trucks highlights the need for a systemic approach to decarbonising freight transport. It is important to ensure the competitiveness of low-carbon modes of transport and to drive forward the transition away from fossil fuels. The question remains: Do mega trucks really make sense? The answer seems to be rather negative.