EU’s CO2 standards for trucks unrealistic due to lack of infrastructure – ACEA

LONDON (ICIS)–EU standards for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from trucks, which were approved this week, are unrealistic due to a lack of proper infrastructure for alternatively-fuelled heavy vehicles, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) said on Tuesday.

On 18 February, the EU’s executive body, the European Commission, the European Parliament and national governments agreed to what ACEA has called “highly ambitious” targets: trucks will have to reduce CO2 emissions by 15% by 2025 and by 30% by 2030, compared with 2019.

The EU has said, however, that the reduction for 2030 was “aspirational” and only to be used as guidance for the long term. Click here for the EU’s targets.

“It [30% reduction target by 2030] will be reviewed in 2022 to incorporate additional information on the new technologies needed to meet this target,” said the Commission.

Despite this potential revision, ACEA said the targets were “highly demanding” because their implementation not only depends on the automobile industry but also on public bodies providing the necessary infrastructure.

“We can now only call upon member states to urgently step up their efforts to roll-out the infrastructure required for charging and refuelling the alternatively-powered trucks which will need to be sold en masse if these targets are to be met,” said Erik Jonnaert, ACEA secretary general.

“Currently there is no public charging or refuelling infrastructure suitable for electric or hydrogen trucks whatsoever. Even in the case of truck-specific filling stations for natural gas (CNG [compressed natural gas] and LNG [liquefied natural gas]), availability remains very low and patchy across Europe.”