EU tightens CO2 standards for heavy-duty vehicles in bold move
13 May 2024 14:28
According to the EU Council's announcement, the regulations maintain a target for 2025: a 15 percent reduction in emissions for heavy goods vehicles weighing over 35,000 pounds.
The new targets for medium-heavy goods vehicles exceeding 16,500 pounds and coaches, along with some specialist vehicles, are notably ambitious: a 45 per cent reduction from 2030, up from the previous 30 per cent, 65 per cent from 2035, and a striking 90 per cent from 2040.
City buses are set to reach zero emissions by 2035, with an impressive interim target of 90 per cent reduction by 2030. Intercity buses, however, will be exempt from this specific target, as they are categorized as coaches for emission measurement.
EU's greenhouse gas emission reduction plan
The heavy-duty vehicle sector is significant, accounting for over 25 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from road transport within the EU. The initial CO2 emission standards for selected heavy-duty vehicles were established in 2019, with set targets for the years 2025 to 2029 and commencement from 2030, which included a regulation review planned for 2022, as noted by the Council.