Vehicle maker insists 2039 will see tank-to-wheel target met
Daimler Trucks & Buses has nailed its CO2-neutral driving operations colours to the mast, pointing to electric propulsion initiatives of makes within its stable as a basis.
The company has nominated 2039 as the year for its environmental strategy in major northern hemisphere markets, which is expected to put pressure on other markets reliant on diesel propulsion, but it is seeking government intervention worldwide to help grease the wheels of the initiative.
For now the target relates to Europe, Japan and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries, with plans to include series-produced vehicles with battery-electric drive.
By the end of 2020, it plans to extend its range of vehicles with hydrogen-powered series production vehicles, pointing to Fuso is unveiling its Vision F-Cell fuel -cell light truck concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan as an example of progress already being made.
It has previously highlighted the Freightliner eCascadia and Mercedes-Benz eActros.
Read how Fuso is unveiling its Vision F-Cell concept, here
In addition, all European Daimler Trucks & Buses plants will be CO2-neutral by the year 2022. All other plants will follow.
“At Daimler Trucks & Buses we are clearly committed to the goals of the Paris Climate Protection Agreement and thus to the decarbonisation of our industry,” Daimler trucks and buses boss Martin Daum says in a keynote address at the International Supply Chain Conference in Berlin.
“Having CO2-neutral transport on the road by 2050 is our ultimate goal.
“This can only be achieved if competitive conditions for CO2-neutral transport are created for our customers in terms of costs and infrastructure.
“As it takes about 10 years to completely renew a fleet until 2050, our ambition is to offer ‘tank-to-wheel’ locally CO2-neutral new vehicles in the triad by the year 2039.
“Truly CO2-neutral transport only works with battery-electric or hydrogen-based drive. We were the first manufacturer to seriously commit to electromobility in heavy trucks and, today, are pioneers and in all segments with electric vehicles in customer use.
“With our holistic approach to e-mobility in the bus sector, which consists of an electric city bus and consulting, we are already making a significant contribution to the locally emission-free public transport of the future and air pollution control in urban areas.
“Locally CO2-neutral trucks and buses won’t sell themselves, because even in 2040 – despite all efforts by manufacturers – the acquisition and total cost of ownership of trucks and buses with electric drives will be still higher than for diesel vehicles.
“We therefore need government incentives to make locally CO2-neutral trucks and buses competitive.
“Particularly necessary: converting and staggering tolls Europe-wide based on CO2 values whereby CO2-neutral vehicles would get significant relief, a targeted subsidy program for buses and for a nationwide charging and hydrogen infrastructure as well as uniform standards for the transport and refueling of hydrogen.”