EU reaches provisional agreement on CO2 emission standards for HDVs including extra heavy combinations important for Finland

The European Member States, Parliament and the Commission have reached a provisional agreement on a regulation on CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs). The emissions reduction targets for new heavy-duty vehicles will gradually tighten and the scope of application of the regulation will widen. The accord was achieved in tripartite negotiations on 18 January 2024.

The regulation on CO2 emission performance standards aims to prompt vehicle manufacturers to improve the energy efficiency of vehicles and to increase the supply of zero-emission and low-emission vehicles in the market.

The scope of application of the regulation will be extended to new categories of trucks, trailers, coaches and buses. Vehicles of small-volume manufacturers and some vehicles used for special purposes, such as those designed for the use by armed forces, will be excluded from the emissions reduction targets.

Emissions reduction targets to be tightened from 2030

Stricter emissions reduction targets binding on vehicle manufacturers were introduced in the negotiations for new heavy-duty vehicles. On average, emissions of new heavy-duty vehicles registered for the first time in the EU should be 45 per cent below the 2019 levels by 2030. The current target is 30 per cent. Emissions should be reduced by 65 per cent by 2035 and by 90 per cent by 2040. 

Emissions from new urban buses should be reduced by 90 per cent by 2030. These buses should be zero-emission by 2035.

Agreement takes into account extra heavy combination vehicles

Finland played an active role in ensuring that vehicles used in combinations that have bigger dimensions and mass will continue to be available. The regulation takes into account extra heavy combination (EHC) vehicles. The Commission was authorised to adopt more specific provisions on vehicles used in extra heavy combinations in order to take better account of their energy efficiency in emissions calculations.

Next steps

Next, the provisional agreement will be discussed in the Permanent Representatives Committee of the Member States (Coreper). The regulation proposal will then be adopted at the meeting of the Council of Ministers and will also require formal approval by the European Parliament. The regulation will take effect 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Inquiries:

Sara Österberg, Senior Officer, tel. +358 50 571 5019, [email protected]