Trucks hauling Christmas presents to Europeans will emit an extra 10 300 tons of nitrogen oxides in December. According to a new study by the environmental organization Transport & Environment (T&E), heavy-duty vehicles transporting gifts all over Europe will produce 133% more nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in December than in other months.

Carbon emissions will increase by the same proportion (+133%), which is the equivalent of an extra 9 500 return flights from Paris to New York.

‘Win-win for cleaner air’

Trucks are responsible for over half of the total transport carbon emissions on some of the busiest routes for Christmas presents despite covering less than 10% of the journey, the report finds.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. “Today, zero-emissions trucks are available and would quickly become cheaper if the EU would require truckmakers to start mass producing them,” says Sofie Defour, freight director at T&E, in the organization’s press release. “It would be a win-win for cleaner air and the climate.”

Zero-emissions trucks

Zero-emissions trucks could dramatically reduce the climate cost of road freight, explains T&E. Setting a target now for all truck manufacturers to sell only zero-emissions vehicles from 2035 would slash CO2 pollution from heavy-goods vehicles – by 11% already in 2030 and by almost half (48%) by 2035 (relative to 2022).

T&E, therefore, calls for a 2035 deadline for vehicle-makers to sell only zero-emissions trucks in Europe – to speed up the roll-out of electric and hydrogen trucks. The EU Commission is set to propose draft CO2 targets for truckmakers in January.

‘Peace of mind’

Sofie Defour: “Giving Christmas gifts should be a joyous occasion that doesn’t cost us the earth. Trucks play an outsized role in the pollution problem, and that’s worsening as freight traffic grows. Switching to zero-emissions trucks can give people a little peace of mind that their presents are delivered by green vehicles.”

And while T&E sounds the alarm about peaking pollution levels in December, Coca-Cola is crossing the country with its traditional Christmas Truck Tour, “bringing families and local communities together to experience the magic of Christmas”.

‘Green’ Christmas

Nevertheless, the soda pop producer already has several electric trucks in its fleet. In November, the company presented the four first fully electric delivery Renault trucks of a total fleet of thirty to the press in Wilrijk (Antwerp).

The trucks have a range of 180 km to 400 km and are charged overnight at Coca-Cola’s depot in Wilrijk with ‘green’ electricity, partly produced with on-site solar panels.

Dreaming of a… green Christmas? Maybe next year…