The European Union has adopted stricter emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles, mandating a 90% reduction by 2040.
European Union member states have approved new regulations on Monday that impose stricter emission standards on heavy-duty vehicles. The legislation mandates a substantial 90% reduction in emissions by the year 2040.
"More robust standards for CO2 emissions will help increase the share of zero-emission vehicles in the heavy-duty vehicle fleet across the EU, while ensuring that innovation in and the competitiveness of the sector are preserved and enhanced," the EU stated in an official statement.
Under the new EU law, the 2025 target remains at a 15% emissions reduction for heavy trucks weighing over 16 tons. The regulation sets out additional benchmarks, including a 45% emissions cut by 2030 (up from the previously planned 30%), a 65% reduction by 2035, and an ambitious 90% decrease by 2040. These targets encompass medium heavy trucks, those over 7.5 tons, coaches, and vocational vehicles from 2035 onwards.
A new element of the legislation is the specific focus on urban buses, with a 100% zero-emission target set for all new urban buses by 2035 and an interim goal of 90% by 2030. Inter-urban buses are classified differently under these measures, being considered as coaches when it comes to emission reductions.
Road freight remains a critical component of European trade and commerce, with trucks responsible for 77% of all freight transported over land within the EU and forming a vital part of a logistics chain that includes various modes of transport.
