“We are ready and have purchased zero emission trucks, but we need more both in number and variety,” says the letter, signed by 41 companies, which FT has seen.
The letter’s authors, which also include logistics group Maersk and food giant Nestlé, want the EU to tighten the mandatory CO2 reduction for heavy trucks to at least 65% by 2030. In the European Commission’s current plans, this it is 45%. This would be essential to reduce the EU’s overall greenhouse gas emissions by 55% that year.
Small offer
According to FT, the companies will send the letter to the European Parliament and the environment ministers of the member states tomorrow. The invitation coincides with discussions within the European Parliament on possible adaptations to the European Commission’s proposals for cleaner goods traffic, writes the business daily.
At present, the range of electric forklifts is still very small. They are more difficult to operate than electric cars, for example, because they have to carry much more weight and often cover greater distances. That would mean they also need much heavier batteries.