New CO2 limits for trucks: EU confronts industry with mammoth task
The truck sector is to become climate neutral! Manufacturers described the EU decision of Monday, 16 October, which sets the roadmap for the decarbonisation of trucks in the EU, as "very ambitious". They criticise that the EU must also create the framework conditions so that decarbonisation can succeed.
Earlier this week, the EU Council had largely approved the EU Commission's decision: The European truck fleet will get new CO2 limits. By 2040, CO2 emissions are to be reduced by no less than 90%. By 2030, an interim target of 45% is to be reached, and by 2035 the values are already to be reduced to 65%.
The plan for city buses is even more ambitious. By 2030, 85% less CO2 is to be emitted, and by 2035 all vehicles in the EU are to be CO2-neutral.
CO2-neutral is defined here as a consumption of no more than 5 grams per tonne- or passenger-kilometre. In this case, too, the resolution follows the proposal of the EU Commission. The definition also offers drives with hydrogen and other alternative fuels a chance to gain acceptance.
For the manufacturers, the decision represents a major challenge. The European umbrella organisation of truck manufacturers (Acea) described the new specifications as "very ambitious". It fears that the framework conditions for charging infrastructure, for example, will not be sufficient. If electric vehicles cannot be used as easily as vehicles with combustion engines, it will be difficult for the industry to convince customers of e-trucks.
The Transport & Environment (T&E) association welcomed the decision as an "important step towards more environmentally friendly truck transport". It also sees the rejection of e-fuels decided by the Council as positive. E-fuels, he said, were not sustainable and would also drive up prices for hauliers by 50 per cent. According to T&E, the decarbonisation regulations could have gone even further and should also have affected smaller trucks, refuse and construction vehicles.
Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) sees the decision as a success and also referred to the air pollution in the environmental zones: "There will be an improvement in air quality for the population, especially in the cities, as a result." The electrification of the truck fleets could thus have a positive effect on people's health and ultimately contribute to the reduction of environmental zones and driving bans.
Of course, the development towards climate neutrality will go hand in hand with the electrification of passenger cars and the banning of combustion engines. How this development will affect air quality overall remains exciting.