A few weeks before the European elections, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has published a manifesto for decision-makers. Dedicated to heavy vehicles, it calls for respecting the principle of technological neutrality and recalls that the combustion engine will continue to play a role in the long term.
Major organizations continue to make their voices heard in the run-up to the next European elections. While the FNTR calls for more realism to decarbonize tomorrow, the association of European automobile manufacturers (ACEA) in turn takes a position in favor of the energy mix. As part of a manifesto for zero-emission trucks and buses, the organization has formulated 5 major recommendations for policy makers for the 2024-2029 term.
The ACEA therefore calls for “ensuring that all technologies are part of the decarbonization mix” and not ruling out the internal combustion engine which “ will continue to play a long-term role in heavy transportation “. From a regulatory point of view, the organization also calls for “avoiding contradictory regulations” while respecting “ specificities of the heavy goods vehicle market » in the definition of future regulations.
Infrastructure: a Europe lacking ambition
While the new CO2 regulation for heavy goods vehicles focuses on battery electric and hydrogen objectives, ACEA calls for accelerating the deployment of infrastructure, essential for the emergence of the market. “ AFIR targets will help jump-start deployment, but more ambition will be needed to service the projected fleet of zero-emission vehicles »warns the association.
Registrations still heavily dieselized
Europe’s ambitions also come up against the reality of a market where the share of diesel remains particularly large.
According to figures provided by ACEA for the first quarter of 2024, diesel still represented more than 95% of registrations in the heavy goods vehicle segment and more than 70% in the bus and coach segment on the European market.
More than a dogmatic choice, all energies will be necessary to decarbonize.
Registrations in Europe by type of energy – Source: ACEA
