Press Release

Commission lorry CO₂ strategy shows urgent need for lorry fuel-efficiency standard

May 21, 2014

The European Commission today published a lorry CO₂ strategy that highlights the urgent need to address stagnant lorry fuel economy and reduce Europe’s growing lorry emissions, but fails to propose decisive action to do so. Europe has introduced fuel economy standards for cars and vans but there is no regulation to deal with lorry CO₂ emissions. Sustainable transport group, Transport & Environment, welcomes the strategy, but urges swift, concrete action to address the problem of rising lorry CO₂.

Between 1990 and 2010 lorry emissions rose 36% and now represent 6% of total EU emissions. Meanwhile, the EU has pledged to reduce transport emissions by 60% compared to 1990 levels [1]. To deal with rising lorry emissions, the Commission has proposed a tool to measure, certify and report lorry CO₂, hoping that increased transparency may accelerate improvements. In the US, meanwhile, the Obama administration introduced fuel economy regulations for lorries in 2011 and is currently planning a second round of standards for the post-2020 period [2].

William Todts, senior policy officer at Transport & Environment, said: “Lorry fuel efficiency has remained stagnant for 20 years, but while the US has quickly set standards for American trucks to improve their fuel economy, Europe is just treading water. Fuel economy standards will slash fuel bills, reduce oil and diesel imports and cut climate-changing emissions.”

Fuel bills make up around 30% of hauliers’ costs and fuel-efficiency is a key concern for the logistics sector. Fuel economy standards for lorries could improve efficiency by 35%, which would save hauliers over €14,000 per year in fuel bills and drastically cut CO₂ emissions. Over the vehicle’s lifetime fuel bills could be up to €150,000 lower [3].

“Fuel economy standards are already delivering lower fuel bills for car and van drivers. It’s time for the Commission to stop strategizing and finally introduce robust standards for Europe’s lorries as well, ” Todts concluded.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

–While just 3% of vehicles on Europe’s roads, lorries are responsible for 25% of road transport emissions – and their share is increasing.

[1] Commission Strategy https://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-576_en.htm?locale=en

[2] New York Times (18.02.2014) https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/19/us/politics/obama-to-request-new-rules…

[3] For a regional/long haul vehicle that does ca. 100,000 km p/a, that uses ca. 33 l/100km and pays €1,2 per litre spends ca. €40,000 on fuel every year. A 35% reduction would represent a €14,000 saving fuel prices. Lifetime of a truck is 11 years according to the European Commission.

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