Trucks
Freight boss: diesel will remain until green charging infrastructure improves
Without a rapid roll-out of recharging infrastructure across the continent, Europe’s freight operators will continue to choose diesel-powered vehicles over clean alternatives, participants at an event on green road freight have heard.
EU Parliament adopts ‘Eurovignette’ directive, ending five years of tortuous talks
Controversial revisions to EU rules on road tolls were adopted by the European Parliament on Thursday (17 February), clearing the final hurdle of a multi-year legislative odyssey, which started in 2017.
Road hauliers warn EU against green taxes without clean alternatives
Industry leaders in the heavy-duty vehicle sector have criticised EU plans to increase carbon taxes on commercial road transport in the next years, arguing that it is unjust to do so before clean solutions for road freight and coaches are widely affordable.
A third of trucks surpass air pollution limits in real-world conditions, study finds
Almost one third of trucks driving on Spanish roads surpassed the EU's legal emission limits for NO2, a harmful air pollutant, a study commissioned by the clean mobility NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) has found.
VW, Daimler, Volvo team up to build truck chargers
The truck manufacturing units of Volkswagen, Daimler and Volvo announced Monday (5 July) they will team up to build a network of 1,700 charging points for heavy-duty vehicles in Europe using green electricity.
Daimler, Volvo plan hydrogen fuel cell production in Europe in 2025
Daimler AG's truck unit and Volvo AB said on Thursday they would start making hydrogen fuel cells in Europe in 2025 via a joint venture, and called for EU policies to help make the zero-emission technology commercially viable.
Electrify key highways to accelerate shift to battery-powered trucks: report
A modest investment into charging infrastructure along major European motorways could herald a shift to low-carbon electric road freight over long distances, according to a new report by the green NGO Transport & Environment (T&E).
Electric truck technology close to challenging diesel: study
Electric freight trucks will soon be technologically ready to replace fossil-fuel powered trucks, but the lack of fast-charging infrastructure will hamper uptake, a new study has found.
‘Radical’ increase in zero-emission trucks needed to meet CO2 targets, industry warns
The number of zero-emission trucks on European roads will need to increase from around 2,300 at present to 200,000 by 2030 if the EU's CO2 targets are to be met, truck makers warn.
Border testing of hauliers will disrupt food and medicine supply, warns union
Mandatory COVID-19 testing of goods transport drivers at borders will lead to “devastating consequences” if implemented, forcing supply chains for essentials such as food and medicine to “grind to a halt”, the International Road Transport Union (IRU) has said in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Europe’s truck giants to ditch diesel, as hydrogen’s benefits come to fore
Seven major truck manufacturers pledged to stop selling fossil fuelled vehicles by 2040 on Tuesday (15 December), just as a landmark new study made the case that hydrogen should play a major role in powering heavy-duty transport in the coming years.
European transport’s green drive on the starting line
The European Commission launched on Wednesday (9 December) its vision for how to clean up transport’s emissions act, as part of a four year action plan designed to help the bloc hit its 2050 climate-neutrality target.
Energy firm turns to rocket science in bid to green transport
French energy company Engie is teaming up with aerospace firm the ArianeGroup to steal a march on its rivals in the hydrogen production business, by drawing on expertise gained through Europe’s space programme.
Transport timetable: What’s moving in late 2020
Europe's transport sector, already hard hit by the coronavirus outbreak, faces a crucial and possibly defining end to 2020. EU and global targets will start to bite, while new technologies will face a challenging acid test.
MEPs bless Mobility Package without fuss
Members of the European Parliament signed off on updated trucking rules on Thursday (9 July) without accepting any amendments to the reform package that Central and Eastern European countries had pushed for.
Bulgaria proposes to take over EU truck cargo, drive it to Turkey
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov will propose to EU leaders during their teleconference on Thursday (26 March) that his country would transship goods of trucks from EU countries going to Turkey. The alternative is that EU drivers would wait 14 days before being allowed to enter Turkey.
Truckmaker Iveco hitches wagon to electric and hydrogen power
Italian truckmaker Iveco on Monday (2 December) joined the alternative propulsion party as it unveiled its first electric vehicle, which it will build in partnership with US startup Nikola Motor Co.
First truck completes Europe-China delivery in 12 days
The first overland delivery of European goods bound for China arrived safe and sound last week, in a good omen for Europe's hopes of making the East Asian superpower's ambitious Belt and Road initiative a two-way street.
EU climate laws completed as truck rules get green light
European Union negotiators hauled the first ever set of rules for heavy vehicle CO2 emissions across the line early on Tuesday morning (19 February), rounding off the current generation of climate laws.
Europe agrees sales targets for ‘clean’ buses in cities
European Union lawmakers struck an agreement on Monday (11 February) on green public procurement rules for new buses requiring that local authorities purchase a minimum share of clean vehicles running on gas or electricity by 2025 and 2030.
Trusting the accountant: How emissions reporting is set to change
Climate targets can only function if countries, cities and companies report their emissions accurately. A new project hopes to show how reporting should be done, but building trust looks set to play a huge part in overcoming the challenge.
Truck emissions rules get green light from EU capitals, tough talks loom
EU environment ministers agreed on heavy-duty vehicle CO2 emission rules on Thursday (20 December), teeing up difficult talks with the European Parliament in January.
IEA chief: Ethanol ‘very important’ to reduce oil dependence
Ethanol will have a very important role in decarbonising the transport sector globally, the executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) told EURACTIV.com. Another energy expert said electrification will play a major role in transport but is not applicable to all sectors, which is where biofuels come in.