European zero-emissions trucks to get 50% discount on distance based-tolls

Zero-emission trucks in Europe will receive at least a 50% discount on distance-based road tolls by May 2023, a move which will not only deliver savings to freight companies and will also encourage the transition to zero-emission vehicles.

Following years of debate and compromise, the European Parliament has adopted a new set of rules targeting road tolls across the European Union which will move from time-based to distance-based charging.

While individual EU Member States can still continue with the old “vignettes” if they can prove the change would result in a dramatic loss of revenue, the new rules will see road usage move from a time-based tolling to actual kilometres driven-based so as to better reflect the “polluter-pays” and “user-pays” principles.

Of particular interest, however, was the update for road hauliers who, by May 2023, must be given discounts of at least 50% on distance-based road tolls if they are operating zero-emission trucks – including battery-electric or hydrogen.

According to the European Federation for Transport and Environment, commonly referred to as Transport & Environment (T&E), EU Member States could opt to levy extra CO2-based charges on ICE trucks instead or can implement both measures.

Regardless, with road tolls costing hauliers up to €25,000 ($A40,000) each year per truck, switching to zero-emission vehicles will dramatically cut company overheads while also accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles.

“This is a watershed for green trucking,” said James Nix, freight policy manager at T&E of the road toll overhaul.

“Fossil-fuel trucks will finally have to pay more if they emit more, and hauliers who switch to emissions-free vehicles will slash their costs. But the clock is ticking on national governments to have the cleaner, fairer system in place on time. Europe cannot wait any longer to tackle this major source of emissions.”

In addition to the toll discount for zero-emission trucks, the new legislation also requires EU Member States to apply air pollution charges for trucks from 2026.

Currently, only four EU Member States charge trucks for their air pollutants, which makes the EU-wide mandatory change a big step forward in recovering the full costs of the trucking industry’s impact on human health and the environment.

Vans and minibuses will also be required to be tolled based on their environmental performance from 2026.