Annual CO2 reduction rate from trucks could be doubled via integrated approach, study shows

Brussels, 16 February 2016 – The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) today presented the results of a study by Transport & Mobility Leuven (TML), entitled ‘Greenhouse gas reduction measures for the road freight transport sector: An integrated approach to reducing CO2 emissions from heavy goods vehicles in Europe’, which has been fully confirmed by a consortium of 16 road transport stakeholders.
The TML study was originally published in September 2014. Based on its results, a consultation process was initiated by ACEA between November 2014 and June 2015. This process brought together the relevant stakeholders representing the different aspects of the integrated approach – vehicle and trailers; fuels and alternative fuels; operations (infrastructure and logistics). The objective of this process was to review the results of the original study and to validate and/or adapt its findings as relevant.
Though some adaptions were made, the overall results largely stayed the same. The final validated outcomes show that, when compared with a ‘new vehicle only’ approach, the integrated approach has the potential to double the annual CO2 reduction rate from trucks, to up to 3.5%.
The study clearly shows that further improving the technology of new vehicles is just part of the picture. “Based on the findings, we are advocating a far more ambitious vision that will look at the big picture,” explained ACEA Commercial Vehicle Board Chairman, Martin Lundstedt, who is CEO of Volvo Group. “Firstly, because new vehicles represent such a small fraction of the fleet, we want to look at the entire vehicle fleet, rather than just new vehicles. Secondly, there are many more factors than just the vehicle alone that determine CO2 emissions – such as permitted vehicle length and weight, trailer designs, alternative fuels, driver behaviour, optimised transport operations, infrastructure and more.”
“We believe that the integrated approach is the right way forward – and the only way to reduce the CO2 emissions of the transport industry in Europe on a large scale.”
Both the validated study as well as ACEA’s position paper, ‘Reducing CO2 from heavy-duty vehicles’, were launched at an event entitled ‘Reducing CO2 from road transport together’ in Brussels today.
Notes for editors
About the study
The Transport & Mobility Leuven (TML) study is available at: https://www.tmleuven.be/en/project/hgvco2/projectfile/210
The stakeholders who validated the report are:
- ASECAP, European Association with tolled motorways, bridges and tunnels
- CEDR, Conference of European Directors of Roads
- CLCCR, International Association of the Body and Trailer Building Industry
- CLECAT, European Liaison Committee of Common Market Forwarders
- CLEPA, European Association of Automotive Suppliers
- EAPA, European Asphalt Pavement Association
- ECG, Association of European Vehicle Logistics
- ERF, European Road Union Federation
- ESC, European Shippers’ Council
- ETRMA, European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association
- EUPAVE, European Concrete Paving Association
- FuelsEurope, Refining and Marketing Industry
- Green Freight Europe
- IRU, International Road Transport Union
- NGVA, Natural and Bio Gas Vehicle Association
About ACEA
- The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) is the Brussels-based trade association of the 14 major car, van, truck and bus producers in Europe.
- The ACEA commercial vehicle members are DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ford Trucks, Iveco Group, MAN Truck & Bus, Scania, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, and Volvo Group.
- Visit www.acea.auto for more information about ACEA, and follow us on www.twitter.com/ACEA_auto or www.linkedin.com/company/ACEA/.
- Contact: Cara McLaughlin, Communications Director, cm@acea.auto, +32 485 88 66 47.
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About the EU automobile industry
- 13.0 million Europeans work in the automotive sector
- 11.5% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU
- €374.6 billion in tax revenue for European governments
- €101.9 billion trade surplus for the European Union
- Over 7% of EU GDP generated by the auto industry
- €59.1 billion in R&D spending annually, 31% of EU total