What changed

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

P9_TA(2024)0192

The Rapporteur supports many elements of the Commission’s proposal for revision of the regulation on CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles, such as extending the scope of the regulation to cover smaller trucks, long-distance buses and trailers. The zero emission target for new city buses in the EU as of 2030 is also a welcomed proposal. After all, the road transport sector represents one fifth of the EU's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is a main cause of air pollution in cities.

Strengthening the CO2 emission performance targets for new heavy-duty vehicles

The Rapporteur agrees with the ambitious target for all vehicle sub-groups for the reporting periods of the years 2040 onwards by 90 percent and believes that the target gives a clear signal to the markets that the European Union is moving towards a future of zero emissions standards. This benefits the manufacturers, buyers and most importantly the citizens that are currently affected by the emissions of the transport sector. At the same time, enough leeway is given for the manufacturers to comply with the new regulation. However, the Rapporteur proposes new, stronger CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles for the reporting periods of the years 2035 to 2039 by increasing the target by 10 percent. The Rapporteur sees that it is important to increase the number of new zero emission vehicles toward the latter reporting periods.

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Furthermore, the Rapporteur proposes more ambitious zero-emission vehicle definition. According to the Commission’s proposal, a zero-emission vehicle would be allowed to emit up to 5g CO2/tkm, the equivalent of 9% of the emissions of a standard conventional tractor trailer. This allowance intends to allow for dual-fuel engines running on a mix of hydrogen and diesel to be categorized as zero- emissions. Revising the to 1g CO2/tkm is the reasonable regulatory approach, allowing for monofuel hydrogen combustion engines to be categorized as zero emissions, while ensuring that the real contribution of dual-fuel engines to reductions in CO2 emissions are properly accounted for.

PE746.858

In addition, certain 'vocational vehicles' such as garbage trucks, are exempt from the targets under the Commission proposal. However, their CO2 emissions are certified under VECTO and monitored and reported by vehicle manufacturers and EU Member States. As garbage trucks mostly operate in cities, they also significantly affect urban air quality and create unwanted noise pollution. Therefore, garbage trucks should be included under the CO2 reduction targets.

European Parliament legislative resolution of 10 April 2024 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 as regards strengthening the CO₂ emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles and integrating reporting obligations, and repealing Regulation (EU) 2018/956 (COM(2023)0088) – C9-0025/2023 – 2023/0042(COD))

Similarly, vehicles with a maximum mass lower than 5 tonnes include many urban delivery trucks supplying stores like supermarkets in cities, so their decarbonisation will contribute to the improvement of urban air quality. Small lorries should therefore also be subject to the same CO2 targets, and be attributed to the respective sub-groups according to their mission profile, mileage and payload.

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The Rapporteur suggests that by 2028, the Commission should carry out a comprehensive review of the effectiveness and impact of the Regulation and submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council with the outcome. The report shall be accompanied, if appropriate, by a revised proposal of the Regulation. By 2025, the European Commission, in consultation with the Climate Change Committee, should present an annual review of the situation of the enabling conditions per Member State.

The European Parliament,

Finally, the Rapporteur is of the opinion that the CO2 emissions calculation for heavy-duty vehicles does not take into account the better energy efficiency of extra heavy combinations, with maximum permissible mass over 60 tonnes. Since their assumed payload is the same as for significantly smaller heavy-duty vehicles within the same sub-groups, their calculated emissions of CO2 per tonne km will not correspond to the actual load transported by the extra heavy combination. A compensation factor should be applied to average specific CO2 emissions of manufacturers to compensate for the higher loads carried by an extra heavy combination, and this way take into account their improved energy efficiency.

– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2023)0088),

AMENDMENT

– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C90025/2023),

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy calls on the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, as the committee responsible, to take the following into account:

– having regard to the reasoned opinion submitted, within the framework of Protocol No 2 on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, by the Italian Chamber of Deputies and the Italian Senate, asserting that the draft legislative act does not comply with the principle of subsidiarity,

Amendment 1

– having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 12 July 2023,

Proposal for a regulation

– after consulting the Committee of the Regions,

Recital 15

– having regard to the provisional agreement approved by the committee responsible under Rule 74(4) of its Rules of Procedure and the undertaking given by the Council representative by letter of 9 February 2024 to approve Parliament’s position, in accordance with Article 294(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Or. en

– having regard to Rule 59 of its Rules of Procedure,

Amendment 2

– having regard to the opinions of the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy,

Proposal for a regulation

– having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (A9-0313/2023),

Recital 21 – paragraph 4

1. Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

Or. en

2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

Justification

3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Certain 'vocational vehicles' such as garbage trucks, are exempt from the targets under the Commission proposal. However, their CO2 emissions are certified under VECTO and monitored and reported by vehicle manufacturers and EU member states. Therefore they should be included under the targets.

P9_TC1-COD(2023)0042

Amendment 3

Position of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 10 April 2024 with a view to the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2024/… of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 as regards strengthening the CO₂ emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles and integrating reporting obligations, amending Regulation (EU) 2018/858 and repealing Regulation (EU) 2018/956

Proposal for a regulation

(As an agreement was reached between Parliament and Council, Parliament's position corresponds to the final legislative act, Regulation (EU) 2024/1610.)

Recital 27 a (new)

Or. en

Justification

CO2 emissions from vocational vehicles, such as garbage trucks are already certified under VECTO, monitored and reported by vehicle manufacturers and Member States.As garbage trucks mostly operate in cities, they also significantly affect urban air quality and create unwanted noise pollution. Those vehicles should therefore be included under the CO2 reduction targets.

Amendment 4

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 27 b (new)

Or. en

Justification

CO2 emissions from small lorries with a maximum mass lower than 5t cannot yet be determined under VECTO, but their CO2 emissions are being determined under Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and their new vehicle registrations are reported by Member States to the Commission.Vehicles with a maximum mass lower than 5t include many urban delivery trucks supplying stores like supermarkets in cities, so their decarbonisation will contribute to the improvement of urban air quality.

Amendment 5

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 27 c (new)

Or. en

Amendment 6

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 42 a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 7

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – subparagraph c – point 5

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242

Article 2 – paragraph 5 (new)

Or. en

Justification

The tractors of all the largest combinations exceeding 70 tonnes typically come in an 8x4 axle configuration and are classified in vehicle group 16. These combinations are used for long-haul distances in countries that have permitted larger dimensions and masses than the rest of Europe. However, this has not been taken into account in the emissions calculation, where their CO2 emissions are calculated according to the construction mission profile, which gives them significantly lower payload and incorrect driving cycle.

Amendment 8

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point g – subparagraph a

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242

Article 3 – point 11

Or. en

Justification

According to the proposal, a zero-emission vehicle would be allowed to emit up to 5gCO2/tkm, the equivalent of 9% of the emissions of a standard conventional tractor trailer. This allowance intends to allow for dual-fuel engines running on a mix of hydrogen and diesel to be categorized as zero- emissions.Revising the to 1GCO2/tkm is the reasonable regulatory approach, allowing for monofuel hydrogen combustion engines to be categorized as zero emissions, while ensuring that the real contribution of dual-fuel engines to reductions in CO2 emissions are properly accounted for.

Amendment 9

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242

Article 3a – paragraph 1 (new)

Or. en

Justification

CO2 emissions from vocational vehicles, such as garbage trucks are already certified under VECTO, monitored and reported by vehicle manufacturers and Member States.As garbage trucks mostly operate in cities, they also significantly affect urban air quality and create unwanted noise pollution. Those vehicles should therefore be included under the CO2 reduction targets.

Amendment 10

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – 1(c)

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242

Article 3a – paragraph 1 – point (c) (new)

Or. en

Amendment 11

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242

Article 3a – paragraph 4 (new)

Or. en

Justification

CO2 emissions from small lorries with a maximum mass lower than 5t cannot yet be determined under VECTO, but their CO2 emissions are being determined under Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and their new vehicle registrations are reported by Member States to the Commission.Vehicles with a maximum mass lower than 5t include many urban delivery trucks supplying stores like supermarkets in cities, so their decarbonisation will contribute to the improvement of urban air quality.

Amendment 12

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242

Article 3c – paragraph 1 (new)

Or. en

Amendment 13

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242

Article 4 – point (c) new

Or. en

Justification

The CO2 emissions calculation for heavy-duty vehicles does not take into account the better energy efficiency of extra heavy combinations, with maximum mass over 60 tonnes. Since their assumed payload is the same as for significantly smaller heavy-duty vehicles within the same sub-groups, their calculated emissions of CO2 per tonne km will not correspond to the actual load transported by the extra heavy combination. A compensation factor should be applied to average specific CO2 emissions of manufacturers to compensate for the higher loads carried by an extra heavy combination.

Amendment 14

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 18 (new)

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242

Article 15

Or. en

Justification

By 2028, the Commission should carry out a comprehensive review of the effectiveness and impact of the Regulation and submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council with the outcome. The report shall be accompanied, if appropriate, by a revised proposal of the Regulation.

Amendment 15

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – 1.1.1.

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242

Annex I – table 1

Or. en

Justification

CO2 emissions from vocational vehicles, such as garbage trucks are already certified under VECTO, monitored and reported by vehicle manufacturers and Member States.

As garbage trucks mostly operate in cities, they also significantly affect urban air quality and create unwanted noise pollution. Those vehicles should therefore be included under the CO2 reduction targets.

Amendment 16

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – 1.1.4. (new)

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242

Annex I – table 2

Or. en

Justification

CO2 emissions from small lorries with a maximum mass lower than 5t cannot yet be determined under VECTO, but their CO2 emissions are being determined under Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and their new vehicle registrations are reported by Member States to the Commission.

Vehicles with a maximum mass lower than 5t include many urban delivery trucks supplying stores like supermarkets in cities, so their decarbonisation will contribute to the improvement of urban air quality. Small lorries should therefore also be subject to the same CO2 targets, and be attributed to the respective sub-groups according to their mission profile, mileage and payload.

Amendment 17

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – 4.3.1.

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242

Annex I

Or. en

Justification

The CO2 emission targets proposed by the Commission will not be enough to achieve the Union's climate neutrality objective, taking into account the fair share that road transport should contribute to achieving that objective.

Annex I of the regulation includes specific targets for each vehicle sub-group that set out how each of them have to contribute to the global target. Together, the sub-group targets for trucks, buses and coaches add up to the global CO2 targets of -45% in 2030, -65% in 2035, and -90% in 2040. This means that the 100% ZEV target for urban buses from 2030, which is set out in Article 3b, does not come on top but is also aggregated under the global CO2 targets. To align the targets as laid out here in Annex I with the amended targets further above, they diverge slightly from them to account for the 100% zero emission vehicle target for urban buses.

Amendment 18

Proposal for a regulation

Annex IV – Part A – point q a (new)

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242

Annex IV – (new)

Or. en

Justification

This would require that N3 trucks used in over 70 tonne combinations are identified separately from other trucks authorised for use in the country of registration, in accordance with the maximum mass harmonised in the EU. For this reason, it is necessary to add the maximum combination mass for these vehicles to the information monitored by Member States in Appendix IV.