Under pressure from regulators, truck makers have softened their criticism of Europe’s first-ever regulation on CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles, focusing their comments on the lack of recharging infrastructure in cities and motorways.

A change of tone was perceptible last Friday (7 December) when the European Automobile Association (ACEA) briefed journalists about the industry’s position on CO2 emissions standards for trucks.

“We are concerned that there is a general misperception that the industry is in opposition to the introduction of CO2 emission standards for our sector,” said Joachim Drees, the CEO of MAN Truck & Bus who chairs ACEA’s commercial vehicle board of directors.

“Let’s be absolutely clear – we are not fighting against the regulation, we are committed to reducing CO2 emissions. What we are fighting for is a balanced regulation,” Drees said.

Less than a month ago, members of the European Parliament voted to beef up a draft EU regulation aimed at cutting CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles, going beyond what the European Commission had originally proposed, according to Euractiv.com.

Truck makers reacted furiously. In a statement, ACEA said it was “alarmed by the excessively aggressive CO2 reduction target” voted by Parliament and blamed MEPs for “blatantly ignoring the fact that the potential for electrifying the truck fleet is far lower than for cars”.

On Friday, the tone was more cordial. Truck makers seem ready to accept that electrification will probably happen faster than originally foreseen. ACEA’s comments are now focused more on developing the necessary recharging infrastructure – in cities and motorways.

“To meet the CO2 targets, an extremely high proportion of medium-sized urban delivery vehicles will have to be zero emission in a few years,” Drees pointed out, confirming a trend that has already become visible in the industry.