They request that Europe include renewable fuels in the emissions regulations for heavy vehicles

2023-11-19 19:00:01

On November 21, MEPs will debate the CO2 emissions regulation for heavy commercial vehicles, which until now does not consider renewable fuels as a technological solution. The automotive industry, the transport of goods and passengers by road, shippers and the production, logistics and distribution sector of renewable fuels have signed a manifesto requesting the recognition of these carbon-neutral renewable fuels in heavy road transport. «It is essential to promote a affordable, sustainable, safe and socially fair decarbonization», assure the signatory entities.

The manifesto includes two proposals. Firstly, the recognition of CO2 Neutral Fuels (also known as renewable fuels), including those that meet the RED criteria. Secondly, the introduction of the Carbon Correction Factor as a methodology to take into account the real contribution of renewable fuels to the reduction of CO2 emissions; since the proposed regulation only takes into consideration tailpipe emissions and not the entire life cycle of vehiclesleaving room only for battery and fuel cell electric drives, and hydrogen engines.

Currently, some six million heavy vehicles circulate in Europe, and 300,000 are put into service each year, which means that renewing the fleet that must be decarbonized would take twenty years. Furthermore, in 2021, diesel-powered heavy vehicles accounted for 96% of sales. All of this highlights, the signatory entities assure, that the heavy road transport sector is much more sensitive to costs and the consideration of different ways to reduce emissions is much more necessary.

Beyond the economic impact on the sector itself, the manifesto highlights its importance in the community economy, with special mention to the Spanish economy, and in the proper functioning of the EU internal market. This is because 77% of goods in Europe are transported by road; In Spain, the figure reaches 96%. Which means, he emphasizes, that Spain is much more sensitive to the impact of costs.

The associations and entities that signed the manifesto conclude that the contribution to reducing emissions from carbon-neutral fuels should not be excluded. It is, they say, a reality in the market that can complement other alternatives and compensate for possible delays in the development of electric vehicles and in the implementation of charging infrastructure.