Transforming the European Union’s truck fleet to electric and hydrogen vehicles from diesel-powered engines could cut oil use by as much as 11 billion barrels through 2050, or more than two years’ worth of imports.
The transition to efficient and zero-emission trucks can spur “consistent” economic growth over the next three decades as spending on oil is cut, according to the European Climate Foundation and Cambridge Econometrics in a report backed by Tesla Inc., Volvo AB and Siemens AG. Europe imports about 89 percent of its oil, most of which is used for transport fuel.
Commercial trucking accounts for 22 percent of EU transport emissions despite making up less than 5 percent of all road vehicles. The European Commission has said that if the heavy goods vehicle, or HGV, fleet doesn’t start making its rigs more efficient, emissions will grow 10 percent by 2030.