Until now, it has been difficult to use the Gigaliner across borders. Image: dpa
The transport sector is lagging behind when it comes to climate targets. The Commission now wants to change that with extra-long, extra-heavy trucks, of all things.
It seems contradictory: the European Commission wants to reduce CO2 emissions when transporting cargo with heavy and longer trucks. The Commission is just reacting to the fact that CO2 neutral trucks – regardless of whether they run on electricity, hydrogen or a mixture – need to be longer and heavier due to the large batteries and tanks.
Otherwise, this would be at the expense of freight volume and, given the low margins, this would be difficult for shipping companies to ship. So far, the transition has been slow: 96 percent of all trucks weighing over 3.5 tonnes are currently diesel powered. They cause 28% of all emissions in the transport sector.
The Commission therefore wants to increase the EU ceilings for the weight and length of trucks powered by electricity or hydrogen, in order to create an incentive for change. This also applies to particularly aerodynamic trucks. There should still be surcharges for trucks that allow goods to be transferred smoothly to and from the train. This can be done, for example, with containers or trailers that can be placed directly on the train. At least part of the transport must be transferred from road to rail.
At least temporarily until 2035, the Commission is also relying on so-called gigaliners to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These long trucks are mostly used in Sweden and Finland. Its use is also being tested in Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic and some federal states. A truck measuring 33 meters in length and weighing 104 tonnes is being tested in Finland. In other countries, long trucks measuring 25 meters in length and weighing 60 tons are common. Currently, “normal” trucks cannot weigh more than 40 tons.
The road continues to play an important role in transport
Until now, it has been difficult to use these gigaliners across borders. This makes its use less efficient, for example, in transporting blades for wind turbines. The Commission therefore wants to make this the rule, at least among countries that allow gigaliners. Loads that today would take three trucks could be transported with two, he emphasizes.
more on the subject
Unlike in the past, the Commission no longer has any doubts that roads will continue to play an important role in the transport sector. According to the authorities, the development of recent years – from the transport of bulk goods to the transport of intermediate and final products – inevitably leads to this. Between 2010 and 2020, road freight transport grew by 12 percent. On rails, the increase was only 1%. However, the Commission also wants to promote rail transport.
In particular, she wants to improve cross-border cooperation between authorities responsible for the rail network. In addition, slots for rail freight transport are no longer allocated annually, but on a short-term basis. Cargo traffic depends heavily on economic development, which makes long-term planning very difficult, the authority argues. The European Parliament and the Council of States must approve the proposal before it enters into force.
Source: DO