Truck CO2 standards 

The European Commission's proposal to review the CO2 standards for new heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) is the most important legislation to regulate climate emissions from trucks and buses in Europe. HDVs - or all road vehicles above 3.5 tonnes moving goods and passengers - are responsible for 27% of climate emissions from road transport in Europe, while accounting for only 2% of the vehicles on the road.

Read T&E’s recommendations for the law

Europe’s CO2 standards for new trucks and buses

In 2019, the EU adopted the first ever CO2 standards for new HDVs. The Regulation requires truck and bus manufacturers to reduce the average emissions of their new sales with 15% by 2025 and 30% by 2030 (relative to a 2019/2020 baseline). The currently regulated truck categories are responsible for around 61% of total EU HDV sales and 65% of HDV fleet emissions.

To reach climate neutrality by 2050, trucks and buses however need to be entirely decarbonised. Zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) – which include battery electric (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) as well as hydrogen combustion trucks – are the only available technology which can cut emissions from new sales quickly, fully decarbonise the heavy-duty sector in the long-term, and eliminate harmful air pollution. The Commission proposes to increase their sales through a -45% CO2 reduction target for HDVs in 2030, a -65% target in 2035 and a -90% target in 2040.

The shortcomings of the Commission proposal

A CO2 target of -90% might seem close enough to full decarbonisation at first sight. But due to a number of shortcomings, the proposal would only reduce emissions from HDVs by 56% until 2050 (against 1990 levels). This both fails the EU’s climate ambitions and Europe’s chance to retain its industrial leadership of the sector. While the Commission proposal brings a number of improvements compared to the current regulation, it is falling short in 4 key aspects:

  • It lacks a 100% zero-emission target
  • Its 2030 target is too low and lags behind industry plans
  • It leaves 20% of HDV sales unregulated
  • It defines trucks running partially on diesel as zero-emission

Industry headed for zero emissions, but certainty needed

10 EU countries have already pledged to transition to 100% zero-emission HDV sales by 2040. They have done so under a Global Memorandum of Understanding, which was also signed by the UK, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey, as well as Canada and the U.S.. California, whose emission standards are commonly followed by other U.S. states, has recently adopted a 100% zero-emission sales target for trucks and buses already in 2036.

Today, Europe’s truck manufacturers are world leaders in developing commercial vehicle technology. They have established a growing presence in global and emerging markets, including the U.S., China and India. Failing to set a target to reduce CO2 emissions from new trucks and buses by 100% would put Europe’s technological edge in the heavy-duty segment at risk, just when the U.S. is joining China in the race for industrial leadership following the Inflation Reduction Act.

The HDV CO2 standards are the key supply-side policy to mandate Europe’s truck makers to invest, manufacture and sell clean trucks. If co-legislators in the European Parliament and Council do not agree on more ambitious CO2 standards, they would fail to send the necessary signal and create investment certainty for Europe’s industry.