Continental launches VECTO, fleet tyres, emissions microsite

Continental AG has just launched a microsite containing information about the latest CO₂ emissions regulations for heavy goods vehicles and the VECTO (Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool) simulation tool.

To combat climate change in line with the Paris Agreement, the first carbon dioxide emissions regulations for new heavy-duty vehicles (HDV) were introduced by the European Commission in 2019 (EU Regulation 2019/1242). These mean cutting average CO₂ emissions from new HDVs by 15 per cent by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030 compared to the reference year July 2019 to June 2020. This regulation currently applies to 4×2 and 6×2 trucks with a gross vehicle weight over 16 metric tons, while a future extension of the regulation is under consideration by the European Commission.

To ensure the ambitious reduction targets are met, the Commission launched the VECTO simulation tool. On its new website about the tool, Continental aims to provide fleet managers with comprehensive information about the new regulation and its implications for them, given that tires significantly influence fuel consumption and by that the CO₂ emissions generated by a vehicle.

The website can be found here: https://www.continental-tires.com/transport/fleetsolutions/co2-regulations-vecto

In order to communicate the most important messages, the microsite contains embedded videos; Information about business effects for fleet operators, focusing on fuel efficiency and greater transparency with regard to the purchase of a truck; And infographics about the new regulation, with facts and figures on how the VECTO tool performs its calculations.

Constantin Batsch, Head of Truck Tires Replacement at Continental’s business region Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), sees a clear need for such a microsite: “From our talks with customers we see that there is a lot of interest from fleet managers all over Europe. We know that fuel consumption and thereby CO₂ emissions will not only become more important when buying a new truck, but also when replacing tires. So, we want to provide fleet operators with important information on how the new CO₂ regulation and the resulting changes for tires affect their business and how they can make best use of it. We see ourselves as service consultants, especially with regard to finding the right tire, tire management and how this helps reduce overall operating costs and CO₂ emissions.”

The European Parliament states that 25 per cent of the European Union’s CO₂ emissions from transport are generated by heavy-duty vehicles. If truck manufacturers fail to comply with the new regulations, they will incur penalty payments for each vehicle. Further regulations that could affect fleets directly are currently under discussion. Tyres impact on up to 40 per cent of fleet operating costs because they have a significant influence on fuel consumption (30 per cent) as well as on repairs and maintenance (5 per cent) and actual tyre costs (5 per cent).