Also called EMS (European Modular System), HCV (High Capacity Vehicle), HPV (High Productivity Vehicles), LHV (Longer and/or Heavier Vehicles).

Eco-trucks are vehicles that incorporate a range of technologies and design features with improved energy efficiency and therefore, reduced emissions and they are a crucial part of the road transportation decarbonisation efforts. One of the key advantages of eco-trucks is their ability to reduce vehicle demand (in v.km terms) due to their increased capacity (higher t.km/v.km ratio). By reducing the number of vehicles needed, eco-trucks can help to lower fuel consumption and emissions, leading to significant environmental benefits. In addition to reducing the v.km level, eco-trucks also incorporate a range of technologies and design features to improve energy efficiency. These may include aerodynamic designs, low-rolling-resistance tires, regenerative braking systems and advanced powertrains such as electric or hybrid engines. By improving energy efficiency, eco-trucks can further reduce fuel consumption and emissions, while also reducing operating costs for transport companies.

Eco-Trucks in Europe

EMS: European Modular System

Historically, Sweden has allowed long and heavy vehicles on its roads. The transition from 24m to 25.25 m and 60 t trucks in 1998 was to take advantage of the new EU approach to road transport that was included in Directive 96/53/EC. This new approach was developed when Sweden and Finland joined the EU in 1995. For environmental and competitive reasons, it was unacceptable for both Sweden and Finland to apply the EU rules on weights and dimensions, as both countries had allowed vehicles longer and heavier than the EU-stipulated 18.75m/40-44t trucks on their roads for a long time prior to this. In order to find a solution that would enable foreign transporters to compete on equal terms within Sweden and Finland, or in any other EU member state that allowed longer and heavier vehicles, a compromise was reached through the creation of the European Modular System (EMS) which enables foreign transporters to increase their vehicles’ length and weight on the condition that the existing standardised EU modules were used.

Eco-trucks in the European Union are known as the European Modular System (EMS). The EMS is based on the use of existing units – vehicles and trailers – to form longer or longer and heavier vehicle combinations providing that the individual vehicle units of the combination comply with the European rules on weights of dimensions. In practice, it allows national authorities to authorise trucks longer than the ‘normal’ maximum for a road train of 18.75 meters in length and a 40 tonnes of GCW. A variety of combinations can be found and those include:

The use of the modular concept in the EU results in increased efficiency of transport in general and road transport in particular. Indeed, based on standard modules, it provides the flexibility to adapt the vehicles to different situations. It also offers the possibility of using long combinations when possible, and shorter combinations when necessary. As it is based on existing equipment (vehicles and load units), it is easy to implement and very easy to rearrange to shorter combinations and to adapt to local conditions.

This approach to road transport was developed when Sweden and Finland joined the EU in the 1980s. For environmental and competitiveness reasons, it was difficult for both Sweden and Finland to apply the EU rules on weights and dimensions, as both countries had long permitted longer and heavier vehicles on their roads. In order to find a solution that would enable foreign transporters to compete on equal terms in Sweden and Finland, a compromise was reached to allow increased vehicle length and weight all over the EU on the condition that the existing standardised EU modules were used.

The EMS, also referred to as a ‘modular concept’, is defined in Directive 96/53 EC, Article 4, § 4 (b) as follows: “the Member State which permits transport operations to be carried out in its territory by vehicles or vehicle combinations with dimensions deviating from those laid down in Annex I also permits motor vehicles, trailers and semi trailers which comply with the dimensions laid down in Annex I to be used in such combinations as to achieve at least the loading length authorized in that Member State, so that every operator may benefit from equal condition of competition (modular concept).”

The EMS concept was neither ‘invented’ nor first introduced by Directive 96/53, and each member state remains free to allow different combinations of the existing standardised EU modules, if at all.

They are currently used in ten EU Member States or countries belonging to the European Economic Area. The most commonly used combinations have a length of 25.25 metres and have a maximum authorised GCW of 60 tonnes. In some countries, the maximum authorised weight is limited to 40 tonnes or 44 tonnes in multimodal transport. Some countries have introduced or are testing combinations of up to 32 metres with a GCW of 80 tonnes. EMS are mostly used on the domestic markets. Agreements have been made between the Netherlands and Belgium and between Denmark and Sweden to enable the cross-border use of Eco-trucks.

The adoption of eco-trucks in Europe has significant potential for reducing CO2 emissions in the freight transportation sector. The reduction in emissions depends on factors such as the type of goods transported and the itinerary constraints, with estimated reductions ranging between 15% to 40% per unit of freight transported (t.km). If eco-trucks were to penetrate 30% of the European truck market, it could potentially result in up to 30 million tonnes of CO2 emission reductions in 2020 and 55 million tonnes in 2050. The European Modular System (EMS) which utilises existing modules to form longer and heavier vehicle combinations, is one example of eco-truck technology being used to achieve these emissions reductions (IRU, 2021).

Eco-trucks have the potential to be deployed on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Road corridors in Europe, which account for 56% of European international traffic in 2020. As road traffic is expected to continue to increase on these corridors, eco-trucks could play a crucial role in reducing emissions associated with long-haul road freight, particularly as 44% of this activity has an origin and destination within the TEN-T network. Deploying eco-trucks on these corridors would also facilitate the transport of goods across national borders if allowed, creating a more efficient and sustainable freight transportation system for Europe (IRU, 2021).

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