In order to stimulate and support the competitiveness of sustainable road transport, the European Commission is proposing to exempt zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles from road tolls and user charges.

As pledged in its Industrial Action Plan for the European automotive sector, the Commission is proposing to extend the current exemption period from 31 December 2025 to 30 June 2031, providing a significant incentive for companies to invest in zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles.

No more tolls for zero-emission buses?

The EU Commission is aware that “the upfront cost of these vehicles is currently higher than their conventional counterparts, making them less attractive to buyers and remaining one of the main barriers to their wider deployment. By waiving tolls and user charges, the EU aims to strengthen the business case for investing in zero-emission trucks and buses“.

Highlights

Depot-first autonomy for European smartbuses

For more than a decade, autonomous buses have been “almost ready.” Demonstrations with safety drivers began around 2015, and ten years later, this is still largely what we see. The reason is not a lack of ambition – it is physics, safety, and economics. Autonomous buses on city streets a...

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