CO₂ emission performance standards and reporting obligations for new heavy-duty vehicles [EU Legislation in Progress]

Written by Gregor Erbach (1st edition).

Road transport is a major contributor to climate change, and CO₂ emissions from heavy-duty vehicles have grown by 29 % since 1990, accounting for over a quarter of road transport CO₂ emissions.

On 14 February 2023, the European Commission tabled a legislative proposal to revise Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 setting CO₂ emission standards for new heavy-duty vehicles in the EU. The proposed revision would expand the scope of the regulation to include urban buses, coaches, trailers and other types of lorries. The average CO₂ emissions of heavy-duty vehicles, compared with 2019 levels, would have to fall by 45 % from 2030, by 65 % from 2035, and by 90 % from 2040 onwards. The proposal sets CO₂ requirements for new trailers and targets 100 % of newly registered urban buses to be zero-emission vehicles from 2030.

In the European Parliament, the proposal has been referred to the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. The Council is examining the proposal at working party level.

Versions

• May 2023: CO₂ emission performance standards and reporting obligations for new heavy-duty vehicles (1st edition)