Van operators in the UK (and Ireland too) seeking solutions to the persistent problem of axle and vehicle overloads may find exactly what they are looking for between two neighbouring CV Show stands this year.

Transport News Brief reports that Europe’s truck and bus manufacturers support the introduction of legislation making carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions certification from individual vehicle types part of the European Type Approval Scheme. But they are urging legislators to take proper account of “a more integrated approach” offering the potential for far greater reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the entire road-freight and passenger transport sectors. This is the central message from a 16 February Brussels…

The heavy-duty vehicle sector is the backbone of efficient freight transport in Europe, with the sector contributing €550 billion in gross value added (GVA) to Europe’s economy in 2011. The industry creates a large share of Europe’s wealth and prosperity, while creating a relatively small share of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions. Heavy-duty vehicles account for roughly 5% of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions. Given that they are responsible for transporting 75% of all land-based freight in…

Back in October, carmakers succeeded in winning delays from the European Commission to a more stringent “real driving emissions” test, which will allow them to emit more than twice the legal limit (circa 110 per cent) of deadly nitrogen oxides (NOx) from 2019 and up to 50 per cent more from 2021. The EU Commission has already postponed the introduction of the tests by a year.

In December 2015, the Volkswagen Group presented specific technical measures to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) for the EA189 engines affected by the NOx issue. As agreed, Volkswagen began implementing the measures at the end of January for engines with a capacity of 2.0 litres.