The UK haulage sector saw a development this week, as the new CO2 targets have been revealed by the European Commission (EC). Covering its proposals for future truck and bus CO2 standards for the next 20 years, the EC has published its plans that seek to reduce carbon dioxide levels significantly during this time.
Compared to 2019 levels, the aim of the key proposals is to reduce CO2 emissions by:
- 45% by 1st Jan 2030
- 65% by 1st Jan 2035
- 90% by 1st Jan 2040
- 100% for city buses by 2030
The published proposals also state that it will be up to manufacturers to decide which of the available technologies (electrication, hydrogen in combustion vehicles or fuel cells) to employ.
EC Choosing to Divert Resources to Marine & Aviation Sectors
There have been hopes in recent months that low-carbon and renewable fuels will have a viable place in the road networks of tomorrow. However, the EC has dashed them by specifically stating their intention to divert these resources to the marine and aviation sectors, despite being able to be used within a well-established fuelling & technical structure.
Exempt from being included with a manufacturers’ precise CO2 targets are:
- Vehicles used for public order maintenance purposes e.g. fire trucks & ambulances
- Vehicles constructed or adapted for civil protection
- Small volume manufacturers (up to 100 registered vehicles)
- Mining, agricultural and forestry vehicles
- Armed forces & track-laying vehicles
- Vocational vehicles e.g. refuse trucks
As well as there being overall CO2 reduction targets for powered vehicles, trailers are now going to be included within them, although exact details are yet to be released.
ACEA Has Certain Reservations About the Proposals
While the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) is yet to fully analyse what’s in the EC’s proposals, their spokesman – Volvo Group Chief Exec Martin Lundstedt – has expressed reservations. A lack of coordination with recent Euro-7 proposal seems to be to blame for the misgivings expressed by Mr Lundstedt.
Warning that Euro-7 should not divert attention from the shift toward climate neutrality and should be aligned with the investment required to meet CO2 standards. Mr Lundstedt added the following to the conversation…
“While other world regions are incentivising their way towards zero-emission mobility, Europe is trying to regulate its way – and even that is not being done in a harmonised way. If zero-emission solutions don’t become more profitable than diesel operations soon, operators won’t buy our vehicles…
…and as a result, we will simply not be able to meet the CO2 target. At the end of the day, vehicle technology – be it battery-electric, fuel-cell electric or hydrogen-powered trucks – is only one part of the solution. To succeed with this transition, we urgently need coherent, joined-up policies.”
Working Towards a Greener UK Haulage Industry
As the UK’s haulage industry creeps ever closer to the promise land of zero emissions, the focus becomes evermore intense on the development of greener technologies. These EC targets represent an indication of the challenges we face, but by working together, there’s no reason that we can’t succeed in this ambitious plan.
As that pans out, the HGVC team will carry on doing what it does best – delivering industry-leading HGV licence acquisition programs via our extensive national network of UK training centers. To find out more about what we do and how we do it, take a moment to browse our website where you’ll find exactly what you need.
Alternatively, if you’d like to get in touch directly, click ‘contact us’ or call 0330 818 8888, and a member of our friendly team will be happy to discuss your needs.
