That is the finding of a study by ACEA (the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association), which analysed work completed by TML (Transport & Mobility Leuven) in September 2014.
TML’s original report (Greenhouse gas reduction measures for the road freight transport sector: an integrated approach to reducing CO2 emissions from heavy goods vehicles in Europe) came to similar conclusions, but has now been confirmed by a consortium of 16 road transport stakeholders.
ACEA’s study demonstrates that further improving the technology of new trucks is just part of the picture, says ACEA Commercial Vehicle board chairman and Volvo CEO Martin Lundstedt.
“Based on the findings, we are advocating a far more ambitious vision that will look at the big picture,” he says.
“Firstly, because new vehicles represent such a small fraction of the fleet, we want to look at the entire vehicle fleet, rather than just new vehicles.
“Secondly, there are many more factors than just the vehicle alone that determine CO2 emissions – such as permitted vehicle length and weight, trailer designs, alternative fuels, driver behaviour, optimised transport operations, infrastructure and more.
“We believe that the integrated approach is the right way forward – and the only way to reduce the CO2 emissions of the transport industry in Europe on a large scale.”
Both the validated study as well as ACEA’s position paper, ‘Reducing CO2 from heavy-duty vehicles’, were launched at an event in Brussels this week, entitled ‘Reducing CO2 from road transport together’.