The European Commission’s ambitious plan to reduce CO2 emissions from newly produced heavy lorries by 90% by 2040 has been criticised by the Czech Automotive Industry Association (AutoSAP) as being unrealistic. AutoSAP also claims that the other proposed goals, such as producing only zero-emission urban buses as early as 2030 or reducing CO2 emissions by 45% by that year, are too ambitious.

According to AutoSAP, the proposed changes will affect manufacturers, transport operators, residents and businesses, leading to higher costs for goods and services. Road transport accounts for over 78% of goods and passenger transport in the EU, and the real decarbonisation of road transport requires much more than tightening CO2 targets for manufacturers. The obstacles to achieving climate neutrality include a lack of resources, especially batteries, insufficient charging and filling infrastructure, and a lack of incentives for transport operators to change their fleets.

Manufacturers are calling on the Czech government to push for a modified proposal. They suggest a requirement to reduce CO2 emissions for heavy vehicles by 40% by 2035 compared to 2019 and 50% by 2040. They also want the early ban on internal combustion engines for the urban bus category postponed to at least 2035 and a mechanism that takes into account the potential of renewable or CO2-neutral fuels.

David Kříž, a member of AutoSAP’s board of directors, said, “The automotive industry has never been in such a complicated situation as now. Vehicle manufacturers are literally overwhelmed by the excessive amount of incoming EU legislation.” Kříž also considers the requirements for the speed of CO2 reduction to be extremely tough, particularly in the context of the recent proposal of new Euro 7 emission standards.

The Czech economy is heavily dependent on its traditional automotive industry. With regard to Euro 7, the government is currently strongly criticising its design and trying to negotiate a relaxation of the conditions in Brussels.

Reducing emissions from the transport sector is essential to meeting the EU’s climate targets. However, AutoSAP’s criticisms highlight the need for a balanced approach that takes into account the challenges facing manufacturers, transport operators and other stakeholders. A more gradual approach that provides incentives for change and addresses the obstacles to decarbonisation may be more effective in achieving the EU’s climate goals.

Article by Prague Forum