Trucks and CO2

Truck drivers could pay the price for EU compromise on posted workers

Two draft laws which will be voted on during the European Parliament's plenary session on Thursday (14 June) could lead to more job insecurity for lorry drivers. EURACTIV.fr reports.

Europe’s quest to overtake spectre of Dieselgate

The 2015 Dieselgate scandal might have been a blessing in disguise, propelling car emissions smack bang into the public spotlight. The EU is now making fresh attempts to bring the transport sector to heel, although there are still plenty of miles to cover.

Blossoming batteries boosted by EU plan

Batteries and storage are set to become even more important as electro-mobility and renewable energy go from strength to strength. That is why EU efforts are meant to help the burgeoning industry compete against the likes of China and electric carmaker Tesla.

Europe’s attempts to spark an electric vehicle revolution

Transport is one of the EU’s few sectors where emissions are actually growing. Brussels believes that electric vehicle uptake is one of the main solutions to halt this trend but what steps are being taken to decarbonise our roads?

Commission gears up against air polluters, sends six countries to court

The European Commission announced on Thursday (17 May) the launch of legal action against six member states accused of breaking air pollution limits. Three other polluters were put on notice for now.

EU’s ‘long overdue’ first foray into truck rules revealed

CO2 emissions from trucks will be regulated under EU law for the first time as part of a package of new rules that also aims to increase efficiency and improve road safety.

Dutch call for ‘high’ emissions standards on trucks, cars

The Netherlands have called on Europe to aim high on emissions standards for trucks and cars, ahead of a much-anticipated proposal from the European Commission today (17 May), which will impose CO2 targets on trucks for the first time.

Truck industry braces for their first CO2 limits in Europe

The automotive industry is warning that an EU proposal set to be adopted on Wednesday (16 May) does not give enough lead time before limits will be required. But the US and China have had limits in place for several years.

Ambitious agreement on CO2 emission of heavy-duty vehicles

Coaches, buses and lorries are responsible for a quarter of CO2 emissions from transport. Soon, manufacturers will have to provide data on CO2 emissions and fuel consumption performance of their new vehicles. EURACTIV’s partner le JDLE reports.

German court empowers cities to ban old diesel cars

One of Germany’s top courts has ruled that heavily polluting vehicles can be banned from the urban centres of Stuttgart and Düsseldorf, a landmark ruling which could cause traffic chaos on the country’s roads and dramatically hit the value of diesel cars.

Divisions over proposal to end Eurovignette system

The European Parliament could pass a law on the compulsory replacement of the Eurovignette, by a system of tolls, despite the reluctance of Member States. EURACTIV.fr reports

Germany’s energy and climate policy is taking shape

The coalition agreement between the German Conservatives and the Social Democrats outlines a relatively ambitious energy policy. EURACTIV’s partner Le Journal de l’environnement reports.

Germany’s ‘green’ energy production up 1,000% since 1990

Since 1990, the production of "green" electricity in Germany has increased by 1,000% and export rates, according to preliminary data for 2017, just smashed another record. EURACTIV Poland’s partner WysokieNapiecie.pl reports.

EU countries agree reporting rules for trucks’ CO2 emissions

EU member state ambassadors struck a deal Friday (15 December) on monitoring and reporting rules for CO2 emissions applying to trucks, opening the way for negotiations with the European Parliament to finalise the law next year.

EU unveils proposal to clean up transport, boost electric vehicles

The European Commission proposed on Wednesday (8 November) a legislative package aimed at reducing CO2 emissions in road transport and encouraging the uptake of electric cars, in an attempt to help Europe's car industry remain competitive in the face of growing pressure from the US and China.

Commission’s new clean transport rules may lack ambition

The European Commission will unveil a package of legislation regulating environmental aspects of transport on Wednesday (8 November), amid concerns from NGOs and some MEPs that it may lack ambition in setting targets for the car industry.

Transport sucks up nearly half of Europe’s fossil fuel subsidies, report finds

European countries spend more than €112 billion per year subsidising oil, gas and coal production or consumption – including tax breaks on highly-polluting diesel – despite a pledge to phase out fossil fuels completely by 2020.

Vestager doles out more truck cartel fines

Swedish truckmaker Scania was hit with an €880 million fine by the EU on Wednesday (27 September) for taking part in a 14-year price fixing cartel, boosting the total fine for the firms involved to a record €3.8 billion.

Technology could help cut truck fuel bills by €5,700 a year, claims report

Trucks could be much more fuel efficient and save hauliers €5,700 a year if they used technology that is already available, according to a new report by sustainable transport group Transport & Environment (T&E) released on Tuesday (26 September).

Semi-automated truck convoys get green light for UK trials

The British government has given the go-ahead for the first trials of convoys of semi-automated trucks on UK motorways.

France and Italy seek operator to manage trans-Alpine line

Italy and France are dusting off plans for a rolling highway that only carries 2% of trucks through the Alps. EURACTIV's partner Journal de l'Environnement reports.

Commission eyes fuel efficiency rules for trucks as road transport looks set to grow

Europe lags behind the major world economies in regulating fuel efficiency standards for the fast-growing truck transport sector and the Commission is moving to address the issue with legislative proposals, a panel on the Future of Road Freight Transport was told on Monday (3 July).

Report: Europe’s automobile market grows further in Q1

Europe's automobile industry continued the positive trend of the last three years in the first quarter of 2017, with domestic sales and exports posting a healthy rise, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said in a report released on Monday (26 June).

Fifteen EU countries will be forced to change road toll laws under draft rules

Eight EU countries will be forced to change how they charge passenger cars that use public roads by 2023 and nine countries will need to change their systems for trucks, according to draft European Commission plans.