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Daimler, DAF, Iveco, MAN, Scania, Volkswagen and Volvo Group have said that they aim to decrease the fuel consumption of modern trucks by an average 20% per tonnekilometre by the year 2020.
The manufacturers have committed to Vision 20-20 – a strategy that fits in with the recently defined EU objective to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by 20% towards the 2020 horizon.
The manufacturers say that road transport can contribute to this objective with an integrated approach, combining increased fuel-efficiency with more use of alternative fuels, more efficient transport, better infrastructure and supportive policy measures.
They believe that road transport is key to the global economy. In industrialised countries, trucks carry nearly 80 percent of all freight. Statistically, every single day trucks deliver 70 kg of goods to each European citizen. Commercial vehicles are also enablers of employment and an engine of economic growth in many other sectors worldwide.
However they identify that for the planet, commercial vehicles also generate major challenges – from congestion, over-high energy prices to global warming, and they see their task is to make sure the trucks and buses of tomorrow “serve our society, with minimum impact on our environment”.
Pollutant emissions of modern trucks vans and buses, such as NOx and particulate matter, have been reduced by as much as 85% and 95% respectively since the late 1980s. The commercial vehicle industry has cut the fuel consumption of its products by more than a third since the 1970s.
They see progress continuing with improved combustion engines, hybrid trucks and buses, other innovative drivetrains, and the use of alternative fuels. A further 20% reduction by 2020 will require a big effort by the manufacturers’ engineers and management.
However, they see developing technological solutions as not enough to address all of the traffic-related concerns worldwide. “Political leaders, the fuel industry, the hauliers, vehicle operators and drivers must all do their part to help shape sustainable mobility”.
The most important lever to push efforts in terms of sustainable transportation is political support. “We need governments as allies to enhance the market take-up of new technologies, address bottlenecks in infrastructure, promote transport efficiency and harmonise regulatory standards and test cycles.”
“Our message is that the world can’t go without trucks, vans and buses, but that we can go without emissions. The IAA 2008 is proof that our industry is more than ready. We invite all of our colleagues – and for that matter, all interested parties – to team up and join the effort.”
The ACEA commercial vehicle members are Daimler AG, DAF Trucks, Iveco SpA, MAN AG, Scania AB, Volkswagen AG and AB Volvo.
