The Council officially approved the regulation on CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles. emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles will be altered and reinforced by the updated EU regulations. CO emissions These updated rules will lead to additional reductions in emissions from road transport and will set new targets for 2030, 2035, and 2040.
More stringent standards for CO2 emissions will assist in increasing the number of zero-emission vehicles in the heavy-duty vehicle fleet throughout the EU, while also ensuring that sector innovation and competitiveness are maintained and improved. Broader coverage
The scope of the current regulation will be expanded under the revised rules, making almost all new heavy-duty vehicles subject to emission reduction targets, including smaller trucks, urban buses, coaches, and trailers.
New emission reduction targets The existing 2025 target of a 15% emissions reduction for heavy lorries over 16t will be maintained. Additionally, new targets for 2030, 2035, and 2040 are established: a 45% reduction from 2030, a 65% reduction from 2035, and a 90% reduction from 2040.
These targets will apply to medium lorries, heavy trucks over 7.5t, coaches, and corresponding vocational vehicles starting from 2035.
Zero-emission target for urban buses
- The new rules establish a 100% zero-emission target for new urban buses, with an intermediate target set for 2030. Inter-urban buses will be exempt from this target and will be treated as coaches for emissions reduction purposes.
- The regulation will now be signed and published in the Official Journal of the EU. It will take effect 20 days after its publication.
- The Commission will review the effectiveness and impact of the amended regulation.
The Commission will also need to assess the possibility of creating a common methodology for evaluating and reporting the full lifecycle CO2 of new heavy-duty vehicles, among other things.
The heavy-duty vehicle sector is responsible for over 25% of greenhouse gas emissions from road transport in the EU. CO2 emission standards for certain heavy-duty vehicles were introduced in 2019, with targets for 2025 to 2029 and for 2030 onwards, and a review of the regulation is scheduled for 2022.
On 14 February 2023, the Commission submitted a proposal for a revision of the CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles as part of the Fit for 55 legislative package. The updated rules contribute to the EU’s goal of reducing its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The Council formally adopted the regulation on CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles, amending and strengthening the existing EU rules. The updated rules will further reduce CO2 emissions from road transport and will introduce… for new urban buses by 2035, with an intermediate target of 90% for this category by 2030. Inter-urban buses will be exempt from this target, as they will be regarded as coaches for the purposes of measuring emissions reduction.
Next steps
The regulation will now be signed and published in the Official Journal of the EU. It will enter into force 20 days after its publication.
The effectiveness and impact of the amended regulation will be reviewed by the Commission in 2027.
Among other things, the Commission will also have to evaluate the possibility of developing a common methodology for the assessment and reporting of the full lifecycle CO emissions of new heavy-duty vehicles.
Background
The heavy-duty vehicle sector is responsible for over 25% of greenhouse gas emissions from road transport in the EU. CO emission standards for certain heavy-duty vehicles were set for the first time in 2019, with targets for 2025 to 2029 and for 2030 onwards, with provision for a review of the regulation by 2022.
On 14 February 2023, the Commission submitted a proposal for a revision of the COemission standards for heavy-duty vehicles. This revision is an integral part of the Fit for 55 legislative package. The updated rules contribute to the EU’s aim of reducing its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
