EU to propose linking CO2 emissions for trucks, cars to road toll charges

(Reuters, 21 Apr 2017) The European Commission is to propose making cars, trucks, buses and vans pay higher road toll charges the more CO2 they emit as it seeks to cut road transport's carbon footprint, two EU officials said.

The proposal, which has not yet been finalised, will for the first time set some EU-wide principles for road tolls for cars, including one that motorists must pay according to the distance traveled, and include buses and coaches, the people said.

The proposal will keep the average level of tolls collected roughly constant, meaning more polluting vehicles will pay more while cleaner ones will pay less, one of the sources said.

Heavy duty vehicles (HDVs) account for a small fraction of vehicles on the road but are responsible for a third of road transport's CO2 emissions in the EU.

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Reuters, 21 Apr 2017: EU to propose linking CO2 emissions for trucks, cars to road toll charges