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Welcome to the latest Transport Brief!
Europe’s new suite of green rules for road transport is starting to take shape. Some new laws unambiguously push European carmakers to produce zero-emission vehicles. But other proposals are much less clear.
Take the new weights and dimensions rules. The Parliament’s proposed revision will allow petrol-powered trucks heavier than 40 tonnes to cross country borders until 2035.
Or the revision of the rules on tailpipe emissions. The parliament declined to meaningfully increase standards for passenger cars.
And who could forget the last-minute reprieve for the internal combustion engine?
On the other hand, the EU has sent its car manufacturers some pretty strong signals that the future of road transport is zero carbon.
Notwithstanding the debate over e-fuels, EU law now requires that cars and vans sold from 2035 must have zero emissions. Europe’s landmark carbon cap-and-trade system will cover road transport from 2027. And updated Euro 7 standards will cover emissions from brakes and tyres – the main emissions expected from electric vehicles.
The key question is: Do these mixed signals really help Europe’s carmakers?
The future of road transport seems almost certain to be electric. New international competitors in China and the US have wholeheartedly embraced this transition a long time ago.
European manufacturers, wedded to their highly developed combustion engines, were far more reluctant. As a result, there is now no guarantee that Europe’s current leadership in car production will transfer through to the electric age.
Ultimately, European carmakers will only thrive if they can produce the best vehicles.
The sector has already struggled with conflicting urges. Manufacturers’ need to defend past strengths has undermined their willingness to fully pivot to tomorrow’s challenges. It seems that these contradicting commercial interests are now being translated into EU policy – no doubt a result of industry lobbying.
But perhaps Europe’s carmakers would benefit from a clear, unambiguous signal – that from here on in, excellence in deep decarbonisation will be the ultimate driver of commercial success.
Today’s edition is powered by CEN and CENELEC
Navigating the Transition: Standards Powering the Journey of Alternative Fuel Infrastructure
European standardisation has become increasingly critical in facilitating the transition towards the deployment of alternative fuels, particularly considering recent significant regulatory changes within the European Union. Join us on 18 April to discuss the challenges, opportunities and the role of standards in supporting this transition.
German trade union boss questions EU carbon price on petrol, gas
The introduction of an EU-wide carbon price on heating and road fuels in 2027 should be reconsidered, Yasmin Fahimi, president of the German trade union confederation (DGB), said in Berlin on Saturday (23 March).
European airlines call on EU to push for more green fuel
Several top European airlines urged EU authorities on Wednesday (20 March) to follow the United States in pushing for increased production of “green” fuels.
Power industry calls for long-term plans and tariff flexibility to finance grid expansion
European power industry association Eurelectric seeks longer-term planning and a reform of grid tariff rules to finance an anticipated €584 billion investment into the continent’s electricity grids by 2030.
Lobby groups call for business-friendly turn of the EU Green Deal
European business groups have presented their wish lists for the next legislative cycle, calling on the EU to streamline policy, tackle double reporting and pair the bloc’s Green Deal with a solid industrial policy plan.
Bulgaria’s lead battery potential highlighted at Brussels conference
Lead-producing Bulgaria has the potential to be a major battery supplier and harness the economic opportunities of the green transition, but current EU policies prioritise lithium-ion batteries, participants heard at a conference in Brussels on Tuesday (19 March).
[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]
