Brussels presses forward with zero-emission heavy transport goals
A regulation clearing the way to ban sales of diesel and gasoline engines from 2035 won final approval from the European Parliament this week. The plan aims to cut emissions from buses and trucks beginning in 2030, with further reductions planned to steer the continent toward climate neutrality by 2050. A new proposal directs the market to offer zero-emission city buses from 2030 and targets a 90 percent cut in emissions for heavy trucks and long-distance buses by 2040.
City buses and long-distance buses currently account for more than 6 percent of total EU greenhouse gas emissions, according to data managed by the European Commission. Road transport contributes a large share of these emissions. The comprehensive strategy raises the profile of road transport in the shift toward zero-emission mobility. The plan covers trucks over 5 tons, city buses, and intercity buses over 7.5 tons, and imagines gradually introducing new vehicle categories and updated trailers as part of the transition.
By 2030, only vehicles emitting at least 45 percent less CO2 than 2019 levels will be permitted on the market. By 2035 the target rises to a 65 percent reduction, and by 2040 a 90 percent improvement must be reached. Beginning in 2030, new vehicles entering circulation must be zero-emission, though manufacturers retain the choice of technology, spanning electrification, hydrogen fuel cells, or hydrogen in internal combustion designs. The policy signals that almost all new market entrants will be zero-emission, though reaching a 100 percent milestone remains uncertain with current technology, especially in demanding conditions such as icy roads or steep grades. In city environments, shorter routes make charging more practical.
Exceptions to the rule
The proposal includes exemptions that prevent certain producers from being averaged into CO2 reduction figures. Small-volume manufacturers, tools used in mining, forestry and agriculture, and vehicles or powertrains designed for military or civil defense use may be exempt. Tools for emergency services, firefighters, and other public safety operations, as well as garbage collection trucks, are among the listed exceptions.
From a Brussels vantage point, tightening targets in this segment of road transport should reduce demand for imported fossil fuels and boost energy savings and efficiency. Today, the European fleet relies heavily on internal combustion engines powered largely by diesel. The new standards are expected to cut fossil fuel demand by multiple factors, potentially saving billions of barrels of oil over the period from 2031 to 2050.
The European Commission also argues that the reform will lower fuel costs and total ownership expenses for operators and end users across European transport. Estimates show a saving of around 9,000 euros for a vehicle bought in 2030 and as much as 40,000 euros for a purchase in 2040.
Existing heavy-vehicle emission rules date from 2019, but they no longer align with the EU’s climate targets. The current framework does not provide a clear long-term signal for investors and does not reflect rapid shifts in the energy sector or the global pace of heavy-vehicle development. Emissions from the heavy-vehicle sector have risen each year since 2014, with the exception of 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions disrupted activity. Freight transport, in particular, has grown strongly and is projected to keep rising. In 2019, emissions from freight transport were higher than those from aviation and shipping.
Attention among manufacturers
Industry leaders say they are ready to comply, though achieving a 45 percent reduction by 2030 is ambitious. It will require policymakers to implement equally bold steps to align the entire transport and logistics value chain. European manufacturers estimate that achieving a 45 percent CO2 cut by 2030 would require more than 400,000 zero-emission trucks on the road and the annual registration of at least 100,000 new zero-emission trucks. This also means roughly 50,000 public charging points suitable for trucks within seven years, with about 35,000 being high-performance hubs and around 700 hydrogen refueling stations.