The vote by EU member states last Thursday (11 May) requires CO2 emissions to be calculated with the computer simulation tool VECTO and will be a “game changer” for fleet buyers, according to Erik Jonnaert, secretary general of ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.
However, truck manufacturers are concerned about the proposed lead time between the regulation’s introduction and the first step of the CO2 declaration, which is now tied to the date of vehicle registration rather than production.
Using VECTO data, truck makers will have to declare CO2 values for each vehicle produced for the EU market – providing a credible, standardised way of comparing fuel efficiency across all brands. “This will be a major game changer, as it will help transport operators choose the most fuel-efficient vehicle more easily, thereby significantly reducing CO2,” says Jonnaert.
“It will also lead to increased transparency and competition among manufacturers to develop the most fuel-efficient vehicles, driving the market uptake of the cleanest vehicles.”