Review of the CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles

Key points

The EESC:

• welcomes the objective accelerating the pace of decarbonisation in the sector and to boost its structural transformation. The EU should seize the opportunity to become a leader in the clean-transport industry;
• acknowledges the importance of a regulatory stimulus to foster the deployment of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). However, the EESC believes that a focus must also be given to the demand side and to the key enabling conditions that make operating ZEVs a viable option for logistic operators;
• reaffirms its support for the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR). Public authorities must ensure alternative fuels and charging stations are available where needed;
• calls for a close monitoring of developments, including an in-depth assessment of the supply chain;
• thinks that the proposed regulation based on the "tailpipe" approach needs to be complemented by other policy instruments to incentivise the use of renewable, non-fossil fuels for the part of the fleet running on internal combustion engine (ICE). The Fit for 55 package must ensure a life-cycle approach and avoid road transport decarbonisation leading to a shift of emissions upstream in the value chain;
• stresses the need for a policy framework that drives decarbonisation in a way that is fair for workers;
• calls for a CO2 emission reduction trajectory, in line with the industrial sector's capacity to transform and compatible with transport operators in terms of costs and operational efficiency; stresses the need to provide capacity-building and to support hauliers and operators – especially SMEs – to comply with the reporting obligations implemented by the regulation.