Europe agrees sales targets for ‘clean’ buses in cities

(EurActiv, 12 Feb 2019) European Union lawmakers struck an agreement on Monday (11 February) on green public procurement rules for new buses, requiring local authorities purchase a minimum share of clean vehicles running on gas or electricity by 2025 and 2030.

At least a quarter of new buses purchased by public authorities in cities across Europe will have to be “clean” by 2025, and at least a third by 2030, according to the agreement.

The deal was sealed yesterday by Members of the European Parliament and EU member state representatives during evening negotiations on the new clean vehicles directive.

Under a key part of the deal, poorer EU countries in the east and south of Europe will have lower targets than richer western states.

“National public procurement targets for clean buses will range from 24% to 45% in 2025, and from 33% and 66% in 2030 – depending on a country’s population and GDP,” according to Transport & Environment, a green pressure group, which reported about the news on Twitter.

T&E said local authorities can achieve half of their targets by procuring zero-emission vehicles – meaning electric buses. The other half of the target can be met with buses running on liquefied and compressed natural gas.

This means almost a quarter of new public buses in Germany and Sweden should be zero-emission by 2025 – i.e: electric. Romania and other EU countries with a lower GDP will see more gradual growth: almost a fifth of new public buses should be zero emissions by 2030, T&E said.

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EurActiv, 12 Feb 2019: Europe agrees sales targets for ‘clean’ buses in cities