Europe’s truck manufacturers have warned that the Council’s newly agreed position on the revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive does not go far enough to speed up the shift to zero emission heavy vehicles.

ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association) acknowledged the efforts of the Danish Council Presidency in securing a general approach on what it described as a highly complex and technically demanding file. The directive will play a critical role in enabling the transition to zero emission trucks, buses and coaches.

However, ACEA said the text adopted by member states still falls short of what is required to make battery electric and hydrogen trucks a fully competitive option for operators across all markets and vehicle segments. Europe has already set the world’s toughest CO2 reduction targets for heavy duty vehicles and ACEA said payload-neutral rules are essential if operators are to adopt zero emission models at scale.

The association said key improvements must now be made during trilogue negotiations with the European Parliament. It called for adequate weight allowances for the most common long haul configurations, including 4x2 tractor and semitrailer combinations, alongside modest increases to axle weight limits so that zero emission trucks can offer payload parity with diesel equivalents.

It also warned against adding unnecessary complexity and cost for operators. ACEA said proposed requirements around on-board mass monitoring and new smart tachograph rules risked creating extra burdens that would not support decarbonisation.

The industry group urged EU institutions to agree a swift implementation period of no more than 18 months to ensure operators can benefit from the updated rules as soon as possible.

ACEA said Europe’s commercial vehicle manufacturers remain committed to climate neutral road transport and would work with policymakers to ensure the final directive supports, rather than slows, progress towards 2030 emissions targets.

Source: Commercial Motor