Mediaroom

Today policy makers in the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee voted on a revised regulation for CO2 emission standards aimed at transforming the heavy-duty transport sector. The committee adopted a set of compromise amendments that sidelines technologies that will still be needed in the sector and the exclusion of carbon neutral fuels hampering the sector’s ability to embrace cost-effective and available solutions that will significantly bring down emissions. The ENVI Committee is the leading group in the Parliament and today’s decision lays the ground for the institution’s final position in the plenary slated for the end of November.   

Benjamin Krieger, Secretary General of CLEPA, the European association of automotive suppliers, says: “With proposals that exclude the use of carbon neutral fuels and technologies that can accelerate the industry’s ability to rapidly decarbonise, the regulation risks leaving several segments of the heavy-duty transport sector behind. Europe needs a regulatory framework that enables technology diversity and affordable solutions.” 

 CLEPA continues to call for a technology open approach and further improvement in the text with regard to the zero-emission vehicle definition that will allow for hydrogen fuelled engines. Policy makers should consider these improvements ahead of the plenary session and trilogue negotiations to ensure that heavy-duty transport remains affordable and has the foundation to positively contribute to the EU’s climate neutrality ambitions.  

“Europe still grapples with restricted access to raw materials, a deep battery supply chain, affordable renewable energy and the infrastructure necessary to meet even interim targets. We need an inclusive and complementary approach that keeps Europe competitive and the single market intact.”  

We appreciate that the 2030 and 2040 targets proposed by the Commission are maintained but regret that the 2035 targets have been increased without the necessary enabling conditions in place.