Lorries, buses and coaches

According to the Regulation on CO2 emission standards for HDVs[1], manufacturers will have to comply with targets for fleet-wide average CO2 emissions starting from 2025. These targets will apply to new HDVs registered in the reporting period of a given year, namely from 1 July of that year to 30 June of the following year. The first-ever EU-wide CO2 emission standards for HDVs were established by Regulation (EU) 2019/1242[2], which set a 15% reduction target by 2025.

Adopted in 2019, these standards are applicable to heavy lorries over 16 tonnes with standard axle configurations, which account for approximately 70% of the CO2 emissions produced by all HDVs. As part of the 'Fit for 55'[3] legislative package, the emission standards for HDVs set by Regulation (EU) 2019/1242[4] were revised. The amendments to the Regulation[5] entered into force on 26 June 2024.

The amended Regulation has a wider scope, covering nearly all emissions from HDVs as it applies not only to heavy lorries but also to medium lorries, city buses, coaches, and trailers. As illustrated below, the revised targets are also more ambitious, aiming for increasing CO2 emission reductions in the coming decades:

• 45% by 2030
• 65% by 2035
• 90% by 2040

The revised targets require a percentage reduction of emissions across all vehicles manufactured by a company during a certain reporting period, compared to the EU average of vehicles registered in a specific reference period. The reporting periods of the following years are applicable as reference periods:

• 2019 for vehicles regulated under previous standards;
• 2021 for newly regulated lorries above 7,5 tonnes, as well as lorries with special axle configurations above 16 tonnes;
• 2025 for coaches, trailers, and medium lorries between 5 and 7,5 tonnes.

To reduce transport emissions in urban areas, the amended Regulation mandates that 90% of new city buses must be zero-emission by 2030 and, as of 2035, all new city buses will have to meet the same requirements.

Moreover, starting in 2030, CO2 emissions must be reduced by 10% for new semi-trailers and by 7,5% for new trailers other than semi-trailers.

References

1. ^ Regulation on CO2 emission standards for HDVs (eur-lex.europa.eu)
2. ^ Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 (eur-lex.europa.eu)
3. ^ 'Fit for 55' (commission.europa.eu)
4. ^ Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 (eur-lex.europa.eu)
5. ^ amendments to the Regulation (eur-lex.europa.eu)