The introduction of new European emissions regulations at the start of 2014—known as the EURO 6 standard—sparked considerable concern and controversy within the transportation industry. One of the most pressing questions was how the new engines, designed to meet the stringent EURO 6 requirements, would perform in practice. Will the higher price that manufacturers are charging for new vehicles be justified by lower operating costs resulting from reduced fuel consumption?
After six months of using EURO 6-compliant tractors, we now have the first analyses and observations confirming that this latest technology is not only environmentally friendly but also beneficial for carriers. As manufacturers have stated, the tractors’ fuel consumption is lower compared to EURO 5 and EEV vehicles.
Unfortunately, this is not a level that would satisfy carriers, but it is certainly a step in the right direction. Concerns that the new emissions technology would not translate into improved fuel efficiency have proven unfounded. At the same time, we hope that manufacturers will continue to refine this new technology, enabling them to soon reduce fuel consumption to a level that justifies the high purchase costs of EURO 6 tractors.
Scania’s strong performance—as a new addition to the ZET Transport fleet—is particularly noteworthy. The decision to purchase Scania R410 EURO 6 tractors proved to be a wise one; these vehicles perform well in operation and offer decent fuel economy.