MEPs move forward on law to incentivise procurement of cleaner vehicles

Sustainable transport group Transport & Environment (T&E) welcomes the agreement reached today, including country-specific targets in 2030 ranging from 25% to 50% for cars and vans; and from 43% to 75% for buses. The report also expands the scope of the European Commission’s proposal to cover more vehicles and procurement services.

But, regrettably, the definition of a clean vehicle has been aligned with the technologies defined in the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive – meaning that dirty fossil-fuel vehicles will be counted as clean vehicles.

However, T&E welcomes the introduction of strong sub-targets that will ensure zero-emission vehicles will be procured in much larger numbers. Today’s agreement on the Clean Vehicles Directive means a conclusion of the legislation by the end of this parliamentary year is possible. The vote in plenary is expected on 23 October.

Yoann Le Petit, clean vehicles officer at T&E, said: “The agreement reached today sets binding objectives for the procurement of zero-emission vehicles. It will help the transition towards cleaner public procurements in Europe, providing a market for clean vehicles that other regulations are driving manufacturers to sell.”