Scania has announced its commitment to zero-emission vehicles with its endorsement of the first global Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on zero-emission trucks and buses, in an initiative driven by CALSTART (a national non-profit group focused on clean transportation) and the Netherlands government.
The MoU means that for the first time, leading countries will be aligned towards reaching 100 per cent zero-emission new truck and bus sales by 2040, with cars, vans, trucks, and buses on a projected target of 100 per cent zero emissions – in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Manufacturers of medium and heavy-duty vehicles that endorse the MoU aim to reach 30 per cent zero-emissions sales by 2030, with a further objective that over 90 per cent of sales worldwide be zero-emission vehicles by 2040 (recognising that the remaining sales share in 2040 should be powered by 100 per cent fossil-free energy).
Scania president and CEO Christian Levin advocated the global agreement on zero-emission trucks and buses as part of wider efforts to accelerate the shift towards sustainable transport.
“We will do our part to facilitate scaling of solutions faster and more cost-efficiently, not the least through initiatives that spur the build out of charging infrastructure for heavy vehicles,” said Levin.
Steven van Weyenberg, Minister for the Environment of the Netherlands, welcomed the agreement in the wake of improved hybrid technologies.
“For too long our medium and heavy-duty vehicles were too difficult to decarbonise. But technology is improving fast, and costs are reducing quickly,” said Weyenberg.
“So now is the time to speed up. Not just for the climate. Everyone has the right to breathe clean air. This cuts both ways: investments now will lead to more green jobs in the coming years. I call on other countries to join our effort as soon as possible.”