Source: Schengen Visa Info
The Commission of the European Union has presented a plan through which it requires new buses operating within the bloc to have zero emissions by the year 2030.
Under a new plan shared by the Commission on February 14, other heavy-duty vehicles, including trucks as well as long-distance buses, will also have new CO2 emissions targets from 2030 onwards, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
According to the Commission, the proposal to make all new city buses zero-emission by the year 2030 was made in order to stimulate faster deployments of zero-emission buses in EU cities. This means that the EU authorities want to reduce emissions as soon as possible.
In line with the objectives of the European Green Deal and REPowerEU, the proposal to make all new city buses zero-emission as of 2030 will have a positive impact on energy transitions.
In addition, it will also provide benefits for European transport operators as well as used by reducing the total cost of ownership and fuel costs. The proposal will ensure a wider deployment of more vehicles that are energy-efficient too and will improve the health of European and the air quality, especially in medium and large cities.
The Commission further noted that the revised standards provide a long-term and clear signal to guide industry investments in the EU in innovative zero-emission technology and boost recharging and refueling infrastructure rollout.
The targets that the EU has set will help reduce emissions in the entire transport sector, which is currently responsible for more than six percent of total EU greenhouse gas emissions and more than 25 percent of GHG emissions from road transport.
Commenting on the proposal that the EU has made for new city buses and new trucks, the Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, said that all parts of the transport sector have to actively contribute to reach the climate and zero pollution goals that the EU has.
“With today’s proposal, we are making sure that new trucks are becoming less polluting and that more buses with zero emissions will ride through our cities. Fighting the climate crisis, enhancing the quality of life of our citizens, and boosting Europe’s industrial competitiveness go hand-in-hand,” Executive Vice-President Timmermans stated.
Moreover, Timmermans said that almost all vehicles have to be zero-emission in 2050 and stressed that the emissions must be cut as soon as possible as cities demand it and the Climate Law requires it.
