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HGV C02 emmissions

HGV C02 Emissions to be cut by 30% by 2030

The European Union has announced that it is taking steps to reduce CO2 emissions of HGV’s.

The provisional deal has been agreed upon by the Romanian presidency of the Council as well as European Parliament representatives.

The EU’s new rules will make sure that between 2025 and 2029, all new trucks will emit around 15% less CO2 compared to 2019 emission levels.

HGV C02 Emissions
HGV C02 Emissions to be cut by 30% by 2030

From 2030 onward, new trucks will be required to emit around 30% less CO2.

Once implemented, the new rules will be compulsory and truck manufacturers which do not comply will have to pay a financial penalty in the form of an excess emissions premium.

As well as the new CO2 targets, co-legislators agreed to strengthen the incentive system for zero and low emission vehicles (ZLEVs) in the heavy-duty sector compared to previous targets by the European Commission.

Graţiela Leocadia Gavrilescu, Romanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment said, “For the first time, we are putting in place CO2 emission reduction targets for heavy-duty vehicles. Today’s agreement closes a gap in European environmental legislation. It ensures that the heavy-duty vehicle sector starts contributing its share to our climate goals.

We are determined to deliver on the promises which we have made under the Paris Agreement.”

UK based developer and operator of renewable biomethane or Bio-CNG refuelling stations CNG Fuels is enthusiastic about the EU’S new CO2 targets.

CEO of CNG Fuels Philip Fjeld says, “We welcome the EU’s decision to reduce CO2 emissions from new trucks and buses by 30% by 2030.”

Fjeld continued, “We believe renewable and sustainably sourced biomethane compressed natural gas (CNG) as a road fuel will play the predominant role in meeting the targets for cutting emissions from HGV’s. The technology is ready for mass-adoption now, it is significantly cheaper than diesel and typically cuts GHG emissions by up to 85%.”

Carbon emissions calculating software called VECTO will be used to assess trucks’ performance. This will enable operators to easily compare the fuel efficiency and carbon emissions of each truck brand when buying new vehicles.

VECTO’s calculations will take into account five different drive cycles, such as long-haul and urban routes, as well as three different standard trailer types and load scenarios.

Automobile Manufacturers Response

Tough new EU plans to cut CO2 emissions from new trucks by 35% by 2030 are unachievable, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has warned.

The warning follows a vote by the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, setting out tougher CO2 reduction targets in HGVs than those originally proposed by the European Commission in May.

The original targets were for a mandatory 15% cut in CO2 emissions in new trucks by 2025 and a voluntary 30% cut by 2030.

However, The environment committee voted to increase these targets to a mandatory 20% cut by 2025 and a recommended 35% cut by 2030.

The committee also voted in a measure making it mandatory for truck manufacturers to ensure that 5% of all trucks sold in Europe to be zero or low emission by 2025 rising to 20% by 2030.

ACEA called the 35% cut to truck CO2 levels “extremely stringent,” arguing that the original proposal of a 30% cut as “already highly challenging.” It believes a more realistic target would be a mandatory 7% cut by 2025 and a 15% cut by 2030.

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