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The UK, Belgium and the Netherlands have also joined Germany’s call for CO2 limits for new trucks.
Road traffic accounts for 95% of greenhouse gas emissions from Germany’s transport sector, according to the UBA, while road freight traffic increased by about 31% between 2000 and 2013.
Trucks and buses accounted for about 30% of the world’s road transport CO2 in 2012. Due to increasing traffic and improvements in passenger cars and vans, by 2030, this proportion will rise to approximately 40%. According to the International Transport Forum, emissions from trucks and buses are on track to become the largest source of transportation emissions globally.
Pressure has been growing on the European Union to act on fuel efficiency standards for trucks since US authorities announced new targets to cut CO2 from their fleet. The US Environmental Protection Agency in June proposed improving truck fuel economy by 24% by 2027, on top of limits introduced in 2011.
Under the new US proposal, trucks there – which now average 33-36 liters per 100 km – would overtake Europe in early 2020 and average less than 26.7 liters per 100 km by 2027, as shown in the chart ( below). The EPA estimates that this second phase of the standards will save American truck owners €150 billion in fuel costs over the life of the vehicles.
T&E said EU inaction threatens Europe’s technology leadership, as the new US standard will push forward the rollout of advanced technology in America, such as waste heat recovery systems that Bosch is developing in Europe, as well as better tires, more efficient transmissions and hybrid engines.
“After 20 years of no progress on fuel economy and the Commission’s investigation into cartel behaviour, it’s time for Volvo and Daimler,” said William Tods, T&E’s transportation program manager. They simply can’t be trusted to deliver the fuel-efficient trucks we need. The United States, China and Japan realize this and are moving forward with carbon dioxide standards, but Europe is paralyzed. Climate Commissioner Canetti should take note of the German Environment Agency and call for action and follow-up.
Access to fuel-efficient technology
Access to Europe’s VECTO truck carbon dioxide testing procedure, which is being finalized by the European Commission, should be open to truck users, the transport industry and green groups have warned. If software simulations are also to have a real impact on the market, truck users must have access to them, the eight groups said in a letter to commission officials.
Access to VECTO will enable truck buyers to compare their favorite vehicles’ performance and fuel economy technologies on their specific routes or trips, increasing comparability, choice and competition. However, truck manufacturers are strongly opposed to this, claiming that such a move would expose commercially sensitive information.
William Todts added: ‘Haulers must be informed and empowered to choose the most efficient trucks and inject competition into the market. The autonomous use of VECTO will not solve all the problems but it will go a long way in reducing truck fuel use.’
For transportation companies, fuel makes up a third of the cost of operating a truck fleet.
