After cars, European heavy goods vehicles called to gradually do without internal combustion engines

In 2050, “virtually all vehicles on our roads will be zero emissions”, welcomed the Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, on Tuesday 14 February. A little earlier in the day, in Strasbourg, MEPs had adopted the draft regulations ending the sale of new cars and light commercial vehicles with thermal engines from 2035 while, for its part, the Commission was finalizing its proposal. legislation to program the end of heavy goods vehicles emitting greenhouse gases.

Read also: The European Union declares the end of heat engines in 2035

This text, which still has to be negotiated between the European Parliament and the Member States, provides that the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) of trucks, long-distance buses and other heavy goods vehicles will be reduced by 45% (compared to 2019) for those leaving the factories in 2030, by 65% ​​for the 2035 generation and by 90% for that of 2040.

In addition, exemptions are provided for vehicles manufactured in small series for mining, forestry and agricultural purposes, for those of the armed forces and firefighters, ambulances and medical vehicles, or for waste collection trucks. For urban buses, on the other hand, the Commission is more ambitious: it wishes that in 2030 those which will be put into circulation will be “clean”.

“New standards”

While the Europeans have committed themselves to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, they continue to implement, in their legislation, the “green pact” which should precisely enable them to comply with the Paris climate agreement, signed in December 2015. Road transport, all categories combined, generates 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union (EU). For heavy goods vehicles alone, this ratio is 6% and these figures are constantly rising, while road transport is growing. “In 2019, road freight emissions were 44% higher than those of the air sector and 37% above those generated by maritime transport”details the Commission.

What’s more, almost all trucks and buses run on gasoline, most often diesel from Russia. At a time when Europeans want to put an end to their dependence on Russian energies, this legislative proposal is timely. “With these new standards, the demand for fossil energy should decrease by 2 million barrels of oil between 2031 and 2050”says the Commission.

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