German government wants to reimburse heavy lorries for CO2 price

The government plans to reimburse freight forwarders using heavy lorries for the upcoming fuel price increases in Germany in the wake of the planned CO2 price, Markus Wacket writes for Reuters. The price, which is to be implemented as a key instrument to achieve Germany’s climate targets, will raise diesel prices by about eight cents per litre in 2021 and increase thereafter. Ministries responsible for transport and environment say the fuel price increase should be offset against the planned new lorry toll from 2023. The exemption is meant to protect German freight forwarders competing in international markets from a double burden of the toll based on CO2 emissions and the CO2 price on fuel. According to estimates from industry circles, this should save freight forwarders around 400 million euros a year in CO2 price.

The German government has decided to put a price on CO2 emissions in the transport and building sectors to help reach its climate targets. In October of this year, the German parliament approved a higher CO2 starting price of 25 euros per tonne, starting in January 2021. The German government wants to promote climate protection in heavy lorry traffic with a combination of drive systems. This was decided at a meeting of the freight industry and the government on 11 November, reports Tagesspiegel Background. Battery-powered trucks for short distances as well as catenary-powered and hydrogen trucks will initially be promoted together. The aim is to make one-third of the vehicle stock climate-neutral by 2030. All three technologies are to have about the same share of this by that time.