gb fr de it

 

New European Commission study on Greenhouse gas emissions from Heavy Duty Vehicles

In a study commissioned by the European Commission DG Climate action, the consultant presents an overview of the available technologies to reduce greenhouse gases from Heavy Duty Vehicles. A wide variety of measures were assessed and the known barriers and benefits were described for each measure (see chapter 3.3 in the report).

Lightweight Materials were pointed out as one area with a big potential. The use of Aluminium could, according to the study, save up to 2000 kg on a combined tractor-trailer combination. This would reduce the CO2 emissions with 3.4% for volume limited freight applications and with 8.4 % for weight limited freight applications. Buses were also pointed out as an application where lightweighting had huge potential. A 10% reduction in the empty weight of a bus results in a 6% reduction of the CO2 emissions. (The reason for the high importance of weight reduction in buses is the very dynamic driving cycle for buses in city traffic.) The study estimates that the cost of the lightweighting in a bus will have a payback time of 0.3 years (see page 199 in the report).

For more information the full report can be downloaded here.