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EU Parliament adopts 90% phase-out of new diesel trucks by 2040

(EurActiv, 11 Apr 2024) Average emissions of new trucks will have to be reduced by 90% by 2040, compared to 2019, the European Parliament decided on Wednesday (10 April), adopting a law that will drastically reduce the number of new diesel trucks.

The European Parliament voted in favour of a draft law that will reduce average carbon emissions of new heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) by 45% as of 2030, 65% as of 2035 and 90% as of 2040.

This will see the number of zero-emission vehicles, such as battery-electric and hydrogen-fuelled trucks, boosted, while the number of diesel trucks will have to be drastically reduced. In 2023, diesel trucks still accounted for 96% of all new truck sales.

For city buses, rules are even stricter, and include a complete phase-out of new diesel vehicles by 2035.

“The transition towards zero-emission trucks and buses is not only key to meeting our climate targets, but also a crucial driver for cleaner air in our cities,” the parliament’s chief negotiator Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA) said in a statement.

We are providing clarity for one of the major manufacturing industries in Europe and a strong incentive to invest in electrification and hydrogen,” he added.

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EurActiv, 11 Apr 2024: EU Parliament adopts 90% phase-out of new diesel trucks by 2040