News
EU Parliament passes new vehicle emissions targets
By ECCT staff writers, Europa
Members of the European Parliament have endorsed the deal reached with the European Council on revised CO2 emission performance standards for new cars and vans. According to a press release on Europa, the official website of the European Union, the new legislation sets the path towards zero CO2 emissions for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in 2035. In addition, intermediate emissions reduction targets for 2030 have been set at 55% for cars and 50% for vans.
In related news, the European Commission has proposed ambitious new CO2 emissions targets for new heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) from 2030 onwards. According to Europa, these targets will help to reduce CO2 emissions in the transport sector - trucks, city buses, and long-distance buses are responsible for over 6% of total EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and more than 25% of GHG emissions from road transport.
The commission proposes phasing in stronger CO2 emissions standards for almost all new HDVs with certified CO2 emissions, compared to 2019 levels, specifically: 45% emissions reductions from 2030; 65% emission reductions from 2035; 90% emissions reduction from 2040.
To stimulate faster deployment of zero-emission buses in cities, the commission also proposes to make all new city buses zero-emission as of 2030.
To support the proposal, investments need to be channelled into zero-emission vehicles and into the recharging and refuelling infrastructure, and the commission has already proposed the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation to develop the necessary charging infrastructure to support the green transition of the heavy duty vehicles sector. In particular, the commission proposed to install charging and fuelling points at regular intervals on major highways: every 60 kilometres for electric charging and every 150 kilometres for hydrogen refuelling. The commission is working with the co-legislators to finalise the negotiations on these proposals.
