(1)

The registration figures of new zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles in the Union have recently increased but remain too low to achieve the CO2 emission reduction targets of the transport sector set in the Commission communication of 9 December 2020 entitled ‘Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy – putting European transport on track for the future’. One of the main barriers to wider deployment of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles is the high upfront cost of acquiring such a vehicle. Securing a stronger business case for investing in zero-emission vehicles means working towards cost parity with conventional vehicles. The total cost of ownership consists of the upfront investment made to acquire the vehicle and the operational costs incurred during the vehicle’s lifetime. The gap in the total cost of ownership between conventional and zero-emission vehicles can be reduced by lowering the operational costs of zero-emission vehicles. Those costs include road charges.

(2)

Directive (EU) 2022/362 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) amended Directive 1999/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) by, among other changes, making it possible to set road charges according to vehicles’ CO2 emissions. It introduced the possibility of varying infrastructure and user charges and/or internalising the external costs of CO2 emissions. Both measures affect the operational costs of vehicles. The variation of charges decreases the operational costs of less-polluting vehicles, while external cost charges increase the operational costs of more-polluting vehicles. Both measures reduce the gap in the total cost of ownership between zero-emission and conventional vehicles. Both measures are important for strengthening the business case for investing in zero-emission vehicles.

(3)

Article 7ga(1), fifth subparagraph, of Directive 1999/62/EC currently gives Member States the possibility of applying reduced rates of infrastructure or user charges without putting any ceiling on such reductions, or of applying full exemptions from such charges, until 31 December 2025. Member States were required to transpose Directive (EU) 2022/362 into national law by 25 March 2024. That transposition deadline implies a very short implementation period of less than two years, which is too short to meaningfully incentivise the demand of new zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles. The implementation period should therefore be extended in order to create the right conditions for the wider deployment of zero-emission vehicles.

(4)

The variation of road charges affects investment decisions of transport operators acquiring a new vehicle. It therefore has an effect on the demand side of the market for new heavy-duty vehicles. Heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers constitute the supply side of the same market. They have a CO2 emissions reduction target of 43 % by 2030, as set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5). While efficient conventional vehicles also contribute to the achievement of that target, the wider deployment of zero-emission vehicles is necessary in order to achieve it. The first year when manufacturers are to achieve that target is the reporting period 2030, with a deadline of 30 June 2031.

(5)

To ensure a clear and coherent legal framework and to support Union companies in the automotive sector in achieving their reduction targets for CO2 emissions, the timing of the measures on the demand and supply side of the market of heavy-duty vehicles should be aligned. The date until which it is possible for Member States to apply significantly reduced rates of infrastructure or user charges or to exempt zero-emission vehicles from such charges should therefore be postponed to 30 June 2031.

(6)

The optional nature of the amended provision means that Member States are not obliged to transpose this Directive. They should nevertheless immediately inform the Commission if they use the option to grant zero-emission vehicles significantly reduced rates of infrastructure and user charges or exemptions to pay them after 31 December 2025,