Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 as regards strengthening the CO₂ emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles and integrating reporting obligations, and repealing Regulation (EU) 2018/956

Summary:

Legislative initiative - tabled by the European Commission on 14 February 2023 - introducing amendments to Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 as regards strengthening the CO₂ emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles and integrating reporting obligations. It also seeks to repeal Regulation (EU) 2018/956. This is a text with EEA relevance.

Further information:

As one of the key elements of the European Green Deal, which set the European Commission's commitment to tackling climate and environmental-related challenges, the European Climate Law enshrined in legislation the European Union's commitment to reach the climate neutrality target by 2050 and raise the intermediate ambition by setting the target of at least 55% net emission reduction by 2030 compared to 1990. In order to to deliver on those targets, the Commission adopted a legislative package named Fit for 55.

Road transport is responsible for a considerable parcel of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the European Union (EU). It is also responsible for a relevant percentage of all final energy consumed in the EU, for most NOx emissions and a significant proportion of the total emissions of other pollutants. Without further measures, the sector cannot provide a sufficient contribution to the climate objectives and to reducing EU's energy dependency.

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 set out the EU’s first CO2 emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles (HDV). Regulation (EU) 2018/956 focuses on the monitoring and reporting of CO2 emissions of HDV.

This draft law seeks to reduce CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles cost-effectively, and in line with wider policy objectives. It also aims to provide benefits for transport operators and users resulting from a wider deployment of more energy-efficient vehicles. Finally, it intends to channel investment into zero-emission technologies. It thus seeks to update Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 and repeal Regulation (EU) 2018/956

The proposed Regulation was adopted by the European Commission on 14 February 2023.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

EurActiv: Opinion, 13/02/2023: Strong CO2 standards will ensure EU leadership in shift to clean trucks https://www.euractiv.com/section/road-transport/opinion/strong-co2-standards-will-ensure-eu-leadership-in-shift-to-clean-trucks/

International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT): Blog, 14/02/2023: Europe's new heavy-duty CO2 standards, explained https://theicct.org/eu-co2-hdv-standards-explained-feb23/

Hydrogen Europe: News, 14/02/2023: Heavy Duty Vehicle regulation includes H2 https://hydrogeneurope.eu/heavy-duty-vehicle-regulation-includes-h2/

Transport&Environment: Press Release, 14/02/2023: EU dodges deadline for polluting trucks in setback for climate goal https://www.transportenvironment.org/discover/eu-dodges-deadline-for-polluting-trucks-in-setback-for-climate-goal/

European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA): Press Release, 14/02/2023: Truck and bus CO2 standards: ambition levels for all stakeholders must be aligned https://www.acea.auto/press-release/truck-and-bus-co2-standards-ambition-levels-for-all-stakeholders-must-be-aligned/

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News

Reuters, 14/02/2023: EU proposes 90% CO2 emissions cut by 2040 for trucks https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/eu-propose-90-cut-co2-emission-limits-trucks-2023-02-14/

Bloomberg, 14/02/2023: EU Falls Shy of Zero-Emission Target for Trucks by 2040 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-14/eu-set-to-fall-shy-of-zero-emission-target-for-trucks-by-2040

France24, 14/02/2023: EU to ban fossil fuel cars, slash truck and bus emissions https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230214-eu-approves-2035-ban-on-new-fossil-fuel-car-sales

EurActiv, 14/02/2023: EU retains combustion engines for trucks with 90% CO2 reduction target https://www.euractiv.com/section/freight/news/eu-retains-combustion-engines-for-trucks-with-90-co2-reduction-target/

Le Monde, 15/02/2023: Like cars, trucks in Europe will have to phase out combustion engines https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2023/02/15/like-cars-trucks-in-europe-will-have-to-phase-out-combustion-engines_6015861_114.html

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Official

EUR-LEX: SWD(2023)88: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment (Part 1) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2023:88:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2023)89: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2023:89:FIN

European Commission: Climate Action: Reducing CO₂ emissions from heavy-duty vehicles https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/transport-emissions/road-transport-reducing-co2-emissions-vehicles/reducing-co2-emissions-heavy-duty-vehicles_en

European Commission: Press Release, 14/02/2023: European Green Deal: Commission proposes 2030 zero-emissions target for new city buses and 90% emissions reductions for new trucks by 2040 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_762

European Commission: Questions and Answers: Revision of the CO2 emission standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles (14 February 2023) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_23_763

European Commission: Opening remarks by Executive Vice-President Timmermans at the press conference on the revision of CO2 emission standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles (14 February 2023) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_23_864

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