Improving the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engine vehicles, transferring more commodities to rail and maritime transport, and optimizing logistical operations can all help to reduce freight emissions.
These initiatives, however, are insufficient to meet the EU’s climate ambitions, given that freight transport usage is expected to rise more in the future. In addition to zero-emission commercial vehicles transporting goods on European roadways, freight efficiency measures should be adopted.
Vans
Vans currently account for 13% of EU road and transport greenhouse emissions. Despite the fact that zero-emission vans are available, only 2% of commercial vans sold in 2020 were EV. As a result, we advise that all new vehicles marketed in the EU be zero-emission before 2035, in order to satisfy Europe’s climate neutrality goals.
To safeguard air quality, vans must also go zero-emission. Vans now account for 14% of NOx emissions from urban cars. According to Paris data, the average van generates nearly twice NOx as the average automobile.
We further request that the Commission investigate the possibility of a limited weight allowance for larger e-vans. However, based on lessons learned from passenger vehicles, incentives for plug-in hybrid electric vans should be avoided, as average real-world emission levels of plug-in hybrids can be up to 8 times higher than those observed in lab tests.
Trucks
We push for strict CO2 emissions requirements for trucks and appropriate facilities to enable zero-emission trucking.
Trucks represent fewer than 2% of vehicles on European roads, but they account for 23% of GHG emissions from commercial vehicles in 2019. And their emissions are rapidly increasing.
To achieve climate neutrality by 2050, the EU truck fleet must be completely decarbonized, which will only be achievable with zero-emission vehicles.
European truck manufacturers have recognized the need to shift course and have committed to selling 100 percent fossil-free big rigs by 2040, with many declaring aggressive sales expectations of zero-emission trucks by 2030.
A rising number of transport operators, distributors, and logistics firms are also eager to transition to zero-emission trucks. Zero-emission trucks will swiftly revolutionize the truck business as we know it if continuous supply and charging facilities are available.