The EU Environment Council has come to an agreement regarding the update of regulations on carbon dioxide (CO2) emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles. The aim of this proposal is to further reduce CO2 emissions in the road transport sector, with specific targets set for 2030, 2035, and 2040. However, agricultural vehicles will be exempt from these targets. The effectiveness of the amended regulation will be reviewed by the European Commission in 2027.
Under this proposal, the scope of the regulation will be expanded to include almost all new heavy-duty vehicles with certified CO2 emissions. This means that smaller trucks, urban buses, coaches, and trailers will be subject to emission reduction targets. However, the targets will not apply to special purpose, off-road, off-road special purpose, and vocational vehicles. This includes vehicles such as mobile cranes, forestry vehicles, and agricultural vehicles. Since the CO2 emissions for these types of vehicles are not determined, they are not required to meet the CO2 targets set in this regulation.
There are also other vehicles that are exempt from the targets, including mobile cranes, carriers of hydraulic multi-equipment or exceptional load transport vehicles, off-road vehicles used for mining, forestry, and agricultural purposes, vocational vehicles such as waste trucks, tippers, or concrete mixers, vehicles for civil protection, public order, and medical care, as well as vehicles for the armed forces and fire services. Vehicles with non-standard axle configurations, such as those with more than four axles or more than two driven axles, small buses with a maximum mass lower than 7.5t, and small lorries with a maximum mass lower than 5t are also exempt.
One notable aspect of the proposed amendment is the introduction of a 100% zero-emission target for urban buses by 2035. Additionally, an intermediate target of 85% for this category has been set for 2030. However, the council has agreed to exempt inter-urban buses from these targets.
In summary, the EU Environment Council has reached an agreement on a proposal to update regulations on carbon dioxide emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles. While agricultural vehicles are exempt from the targets, almost all new heavy-duty vehicles with certified CO2 emissions, including smaller trucks, urban buses, coaches, and trailers, will be subject to emission reduction targets. The proposed amendment also introduces a 100% zero-emission target for urban buses by 2035, with an intermediate target of 85% for 2030. Inter-urban buses, however, are exempt from these targets. The effectiveness of the amended regulation will be reviewed by the European Commission in 2027.
