Largest trucks increase CO2 emissions -  German study

Thu 14 May 2009 View all news

A study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, in collaboration with other partners, has found that the use of so-called mega trucks or 'gigaliners' is 'most likely' to lead to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

The study examined the long-term impacts of these lorries - up to 60 tonnes in weight - on the climate balance of freight transport. It found no positive impact on CO2 emissions from these truck-trailer combinations and that there is a 'considerable risk' that large volumes of goods will be shifted from rail to roads. ENDS Europe reports that the Institute says that within 5 to 20 years gigaliners would increase annual freight transport CO2 emissions by 2 million tonnes by shifting up to 30 per cent of rail freight to the roads. The Fraunhofer study was commissioned by the Community of European Railways (CER).

In March of this year, European Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani rejected EU plans for the possible introduction of the longer, heavier vehicles  until at least next year.  According to a report by Brussels-based NGO, T&E, the Commissioner was also quoted as saying that the bi-lateral agreements allowing the 60-tonne 25-metre lorries to cross the borders of a few member states were not compatible with current EU legislation, nor desirable.

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