The European Parliament is supporting the proposal to provide a 50% discount on road charges for zero-emission trucks as a means of incentivising cleaner trucks, which is supported by T&E.
Transport & Environment welcomed the reform of the Eurovignette Directive which will see electric and hydrogen-powered trucks pay half what the best-in-class diesel trucks would pay in distance-based road charges.
Likewise, by 2023 charges will be differentiated based on CO2 emissions and 
instead of being charged for duration, truckers will pay per km. The reforms now require the agreement of EU governments before they can become law.
“Distance-based charging makes road transport more efficient, ensures vehicles pay for the road damage they cause, and helps manage road use. A toll structure based on emission levels will be a key pillar of a zero emission transport system, boosting the sales of the cleanest trucks,” said T&E freight policy officer Samuel Kenny.
“Right now it’s illegal for a country to even base tolls on CO2 emissions. Smart tolling means more efficient trucks pay less and zero emission trucks get an additional discount. It has a clear role to play in reducing these emissions. There was overwhelming support for these changes in the European Parliament. Governments must now act to make this possible – and refrain from giveaways for gas which offers no path to decarbonisation and can be even worse for air quality than diesel.”
