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

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.