On November 21, MEPs will debate the regulation of CO2 emissions for heavy commercial vehicles, which so far have not considered renewable fuels as a technological solution. The automotive industry, the transport of goods and passengers by road, shippers and the sector of production, logistics and distribution of renewable fuels have signed a manifesto requesting the recognition of this carbon- neutral renewable fuels in heavy road transportation. “It’s important to highlight a affordable, sustainable, safe and socially fair decarbonization», commitment of the signatory entities.
The manifesto includes two proposals. First, the identification of CO2 Neutral Fuels (also known as renewable fuels), including those that meet the RED criteria. Second, the introduction of the Carbon Correction Factor as a method to consider the real contribution of renewable fuels to the reduction of CO2 emissions; since the proposed regulation considers only tailpipe emissions and not the entire life cycle of vehicles leaving room only for battery and fuel cell electric drives, and hydrogen engines.
Currently, about six million heavy vehicles circulate in Europe, and 300,000 are put into service every year, which means that the renewal of the fleet that needs to be decarbonized will take twenty years. Furthermore, by 2021, diesel-powered heavy vehicles will account for 96% of sales. All these highlights, the signatory entities assure, that the heavy road transport sector is very sensitive to costs and the consideration of different ways to reduce emissions is very necessary.
Beyond the economic impact of the sector itself, the manifesto emphasizes its importance to the economy of the community, with special reference to the Spanish economy, and to the proper functioning of the EU’s internal market. This is because 77% of goods in Europe are transported by road; In Spain, the figure reaches 96%. This means, he emphasized, that Spain is more sensitive to the cost effect.
The associations and entities that signed the manifesto concluded that the contribution to the reduction of emissions from carbon-neutral fuels should not be excluded. This, they say, is a market reality that will complement other alternatives and compensate for possible delays in the development of electric vehicles and in the implementation of charging infrastructure.
