EU proposing toll charges based on CO2 emissions

The European Commission is aiming to cut road transport’s CO2 emissions and is proposing to introduce toll charges based on a vehicle’s emissions, according to Reuters. The proposal, which is expected to be published at the end of May, will also include buses and coaches as well as a requirement for motorists to pay according to the distance travelled. The proposal will keep the average level of tolls collected roughly constant, meaning more polluting vehicles will pay more while cleaner ones will pay less.
April 25, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
The 1690 European Commission is aiming to cut road transport’s CO2 emissions and is proposing to introduce toll charges based on a vehicle’s emissions, according to Reuters.


The proposal, which is expected to be published at the end of May, will also include buses and coaches as well as a requirement for motorists to pay according to the distance travelled.

The proposal will keep the average level of tolls collected roughly constant, meaning more polluting vehicles will pay more while cleaner ones will pay less.

The EU currently has a legal framework governing toll charges for trucks, but road tolls for private vehicles are left to national governments.

The proposal will not force countries to introduce road charging schemes for cars or trucks, but will lay down rules any such scheme would have to respect were it to be introduced.

The proposals will need the approval of the European Parliament and of member states before they can be implemented.

Charging, Tolling & RUC

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • News from transportation associations around the world
    February 3, 2012
    Why is the International Road Federation (IRF) moving into the ITS sector? Caroline Visser, road finance specialist from the IRF's Geneva Programme Centre explains
    Read More
  • Improve efforts to develop alternative fuels infrastructure, say MEPs
    September 26, 2018
    The European Commission (EC) and member states need to ‘redouble efforts’ to boost the development of an alternative fuels infrastructure, say transport MEPs. The warning comes in a draft resolution from the Transport and Tourism Committee. Ismail Ertug, rapporteur, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, says: “Our initiative report urges the Commission to accelerate the revision of the directive, come up with strong infrastructure targets and more funding for a
    Read More
  • News from transportation associations around the world
    February 6, 2012
    Why is the International Road Federation (IRF) moving into the ITS sector? Caroline Visser, road finance specialist from the IRF's Geneva Programme Centre explains
    Read More
  • London’s first Low Emission Bus Zone to tackle toxic air
    March 15, 2017
    London’s first Low Emission Bus Zone has been launched in Putney High Street, one of the most polluted areas of the capital. The clean bus zone, which runs a total of 145 buses on seven scheduled routes, will now be serviced by cleaner buses in a move to cut harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The route is the first of 12 new Low Emission Bus Zones to be introduced at air quality hotspots. The zones represent the most extensive network of clean buses of any major world city. The routes are one‎ p
    Read More

Highlighted Content