Swift action on Weights and Dimensions Directive to boost market uptake of zero-emission trucks and buses

Swift action on Weights and Dimensions Directive to boost market uptake of zero-emission trucks and buses

ACEA — 2023-07-04

News from Brussels

In a letter to the EU’s main institutions, ACEA, Hydrogen Europe, and the Platform for electromobility urge decision-makers to remove barriers and swiftly adopt the revised Directive.

ACEA, Hydrogen Europe, and the Platform for electromobility – who represent the majority of industry stakeholders and civil society in vehicle manufacturing, direct electrification, and hydrogen value chain – highlight the crucial role of establishing a full set of enabling conditions to support the transition of the European road transport industry to climate neutrality by 2050.

The review of the Weights & Dimensions (W&D) Directive is one crucial element of the regulatory framework to facilitate the market uptake of zero-emission, battery-electric and hydrogen-powered trucks and buses. We are concerned that any further delays and persistent uncertainty surrounding a timely adoption and implementation of a revised Weights and Dimensions Directive would be detrimental to our joint climate-neutrality ambition and the EU target of 90% transport emission reductions by 2050.

Zero-emission vehicles come with additional requirements with respect to available space in vehicles, total vehicle weight, and axle weights. These differences to vehicles powered by fossil fuels should be addressed in the review of the W&D Directive with an aim to remove any barriers that can hinder their market uptake and firmly place them on a level playing field with vehicles powered by fossil fuels.

The Review should specifically:

• simplify the Directive as much as possible and ensure a fully harmonised implementation in member states;
• provide additional weight allowances for zero-emission vehicles and adjust the provisions for axle weights and vehicle length to accommodate the requirements of zero-emission powertrains; and
• ensure intermodal compatibility in the revision of the W&D Directive.

The W&D Directive must be seen as a key enabler of the transition to climate neutrality and should, as such, also be acknowledged by the co-legislators.

ACEA, Hydrogen Europe, and the Platform for electromobility are united in calling on the European Commission, the incoming Spanish Council Presidency, the European Parliament, and EU Member States, to prioritise making the necessary adjustments in the W&D framework. It is imperative that progress is made swiftly to remove barriers in the W&D framework that may hinder the market adoption of zero-emission trucks and buses.