Home → Updates → Legal → Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 setting CO2 emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles and amending Regulations (EC) No 595/2009 and (EU) 2018/956 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 96/53/EC
Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 setting CO2 emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles and amending Regulations (EC) No 595/2009 and (EU) 2018/956 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 96/53/EC
Jurisdiction: EU
Commencement: 10th July 2019
Amends:
1) Regulation (EC) No 595/2009 on type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to emissions from heavy duty vehicles (Euro VI) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information and amending Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and Directive 2007/46/EC and repealing Directives 80/1269/EEC, 2005/55/EC and 2005/78/EC
2) Regulation (EU) 2018/956 on the monitoring and reporting of CO2 emissions from and fuel consumption of new heavy-duty vehicles
3) Council Directive 96/53/EC of 25 July 1996 laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorized dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorized weights in international traffic
Summary
These Regulations set CO2 emission performance standards for new heavy duty vehicles within the EU, with the intention of contributing to the EUs many obligations in reducing emissions and combating global warming. By 31 December 2022, the Commission shall submit a report to the EU Parliament and Council on the effectiveness of this Regulation, outlined in Article 15, on its effectiveness at helping to achieve these aims.
From 2025 manufacturers will be required to comply with their specific CO2 emissions target, or will be required to pay an excess CO2 emissions premium if it is not met.
These Regulations apply to new heavy-duty vehicles of categories N2* and N3* that meet the following characteristics:
- rigid lorries with a 4×2 axle configuration and a technically acceptable maximum laden mass of more than 16 tonnes (T);
- rigid lorries with a 6×2 axle configuration;
- tractors with a 4×2 axle configuration and a technically acceptable maximum laden mass exceeding 16T; and
- tractors with a 6×2 axle configuration.
It also applies to new heavy-duty vehicles of category N* that do not fall within the scope of Regulation (EU) No 510/2011 setting emission performance standards for new light commercial vehicles as part of the Union’s integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles and do not fit the characteristics for lorries listed above.
Vehicles that fit into the categories above are, for the purposes of this Regulation, considered new- heavy-duty vehicles for a 12 month period, starting from 1st July 2020, if they are registered in the EU for the first time in that period and have not been previously registered outside the EU.
A previous registration outside the Union made less than 3 months before registration in the EU is not recognised as a previous registration.
*Vehicles of category N and vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of goods.
*N2 vehicles are vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
*N3 vehicles are vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 12 tonnes.
Duties
Average specific CO2 emissions of a manufacturer
Starting from the 1st of July 2020, and in each subsequent reporting period, the average specific CO2 emissions, in grammes per tonne-kilometre (g/tkm)*, for the preceding reporting period for manufacturers will be set by the Commission in accordance with Article 4.
*g/tkm is a measurement of specific CO2 emissions for freight transport.
Zero- and low-emission heavy-duty vehicles
Starting from 1 July 2020, and for each subsequent reporting period, the zero- and low-emission factor for the preceding reporting period shall be determined for each manufacturer by the Commission in accordance with Article 5. This is calculated by the commission taking into account the number and CO2 emissions of zero- and low-emission heavy-duty vehicles in the manufacturers fleet in a reporting period.
Specific CO2 emissions targets of a manufacturer
Starting from the 1st of July 2026, and in each subsequent reporting period, a specific CO2 emissions target for the preceding reporting period shall be determined for each manufacturer by the Commission, in accordance with Article 6.
Emission credits and emission debts
To determine a manufacturers compliance with its specific CO2 emissions targets in the reporting periods of the years 2025 to 2029, account shall be taken of its emission credits or emission debts determined in accordance with Article 7.
Emission credits can be acquired in the reporting years 2019 to 2029. However the emission credits acquired in the reporting periods of the years 2019 to 2024 are only taken into account for the purpose of determining the manufacturers compliance with the specific CO2 emissions target of the reporting period of the year 2025.
Emission debts are only acquired in the reporting periods of the years 2025 to 2029 and the total emission debt of a manufacturer must not exceed the emission debt limit*.
Emission credits and debts acquired in the reporting periods of the years 2025 to 2028 can be carried-over from one reporting period to the next reporting period and any remaining emission debts shall be cleared in the reporting period of the year 2029.
*The emission debit limit is the maximum amount a manufacturer can be in debt which is capped at 5 % of the specific CO2 emissions target in the reporting period of the year 2025 multiplied by the number of heavy-duty vehicles of the manufacturer in that period.
Compliance with the specific CO2 emissions targets
If a manufacturer is found to have excess CO2 in any reporting period from 2025 onwards, the commission will impose an excess CO2 emission premium on the manufacturer in the form of a fine, in accordance with Article 8.
Verification of the CO2 emissions of heavy-duty vehicles in-service
Manufacturers must ensure the CO2 emission and fuel consumption values recorded in the customer information file, referred to in Article 9(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/2400 for the determination of CO2 emissions and fuel consumption of heavy-duty vehicles, corresponds to the CO2 emissions from and fuel consumption of heavy-duty vehicles in-service.
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