Diesel Trucks: the EU aims to significantly cut CO2 by 2040

The European Commission proposed new directives yesterday in Brussels to cut CO₂ emissions from trucks, buses, and coaches by 90%.

The European Commission will submit a new bill to the European Council in the coming months. Brussels aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (compared to 2019 levels) by 90% by 2040. The proposal intends to ban the sale of new diesel trucks in 2040. This follows the recent adoption of the European directive banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2035.

This new proposal from Brussels is part of a decarbonization policy for cities and improving air quality. The reduction of CO₂ from heavy vehicles will be gradual, with intermediate targets of -45% in 2030 and -65% in 2035.

Heavy vehicles, buses, fossil fuel-powered cars — what’s the difference?

The European Commission has already made a decision regarding the end of thermal car sales by 2035. Several steps are needed before this new law can be implemented across Europe.

Heavy vehicles (like trucks or buses) require more time than cars to modernize. The investments are larger, and the vehicles are heavier. They therefore need more power and faster charging (in the case of electric motors).

Furthermore, for a law to be adopted at the European level, it must be approved by both the Parliament and the Council of Europe. If they do not agree, the bill is sent back for a second reading in Parliament, then resubmitted for a vote in the Council. For more details, the European Parliament website has a timeline.

What is France doing about this?

There are government grants for transitioning to greener technologies (like hydrogen and electric) without waiting until 2040. Moreover, the Climate and Resilience law, adopted in France in 2021, already promotes progressing towards a healthier living environment and a cleaner environment for the French through several stages.

Among the actions to improve the quality of life for French citizens are:

• Improvement of air quality in major cities;
• Widespread renovation of homes with assistance for households;
• Fighting soil concretization;
• Mandatory environmental education in schools;
• Introduction of more vegetarian options in school cafeterias.

Additionally, the sale of heavy goods vehicles and coaches powered by fossil fuels is prohibited in France starting in 2040. Details of this law can be found here.

Read also: Study: Do plug-in hybrid cars pollute too much?