Under current EU law, lorry manufacturers must reduce the emissions of new lorries by 15 per cent by 2025, 45 per cent by 2030, and 90 per cent by 2040 compared to 2019 levels. They are working to achieve this by bringing more battery-electric lorries to market and, simultaneously, improving fuel efficiency in internal combustion engine vehicles.
While the European Commission’s amendment proposal does not include a general revision of these interim targets for 2025, 2030, and 2040, it introduces greater flexibility for lorry manufacturers to earn CO₂ credits for exceeding targets. These credits can be offset in later years, allowing manufacturers to build buffers for future periods when even stricter CO₂ targets apply.
Although the CO₂ credit mechanism already exists, it has been difficult to achieve under the current rules. This is because a linear progression is applied between the target years 2025, 2030, and 2040, requiring annual increases. For example, the CO₂ reduction target for lorries would already be around 20 per cent in 2026, approximately 26 per cent in 2027, and so on.
No more CO₂ emission reduction curve
The change now approved by the EU Parliament removes the CO₂ emission reduction curve between 2025 and 2029. Instead, the 2025 target – a 15 per cent CO₂ reduction for new registrations – will apply for the years 2026 to 2029 as well. This could benefit lorry manufacturers immediately: for instance, if a manufacturer achieves an 18 per cent CO₂ reduction in 2026, it would have previously fallen short of the reduction curve but can now earn credits. These credits can then be carried forward to later years.
The procedural change appears to be the result of lobbying: lorry manufacturers Volvo Trucks, Daimler Truck, Scania, MAN, Iveco, and Ford had written to the EU in October, calling for a relaxation of CO₂ emission regulations for the sector—precisely as now approved by the EU Parliament. At the time, the six manufacturers argued for abolishing the CO₂ emission reduction curve between the milestone years 2025, 2030, and 2040. This would allow them to use any additional CO₂ savings achieved between 2025 and 2029 beyond the 15 per cent target as credits to ease the 45 per cent reduction requirement in 2030 and subsequent years.
Insufficient lorry charging infrastructure?
The European Commission justifies the move by highlighting the currently inadequate charging infrastructure for electric lorries, particularly along motorways. However, the new system could also incentivise the earlier adoption of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles.
Environmental organisation NABU, however, remains sceptical. “Analyses indicate that the share of zero-emission lorries in new registrations by 2030 could drop from around 35 per cent to approximately 18 to 28 per cent,” said Merlin Jonack, NABU’s commercial vehicle expert.
For the amendment to take effect, EU member states must still approve it after the EU Parliament. However, this is considered a formality, as their representatives in the EU Council have already given their approval.
spiegel.de (German), wiwo.de (German), dvz.de, europa.eu