The objective of this study was to explore possible approaches to explicitly include the use of long heavy duty vehicles (vehicles with a total weight over 40 ton and a total length over 18.75 meter) as an energy efficiency measure in the GAINS model, to assess their efficiency in terms of transport work (ton-kilometres) and traffic work (vehicle-kilometres), and to provide a basis for the analysis of the emission mitigation potential with respect to this vehicle category, currently not distinguished in the model. Potential substitution of long heavy duty vehicles with conventional European vehicles for goods transportation in Sweden was modelled and analysed. Calculation results indicated that one conventional European vehicle would consume 22 per cent less fuel per traffic work but 30 per cent more fuel per transport work than one long heavy duty vehicle. As a net effect, the total fuel consumption of heavy duty trucks would increase by 24 percent if long heavy duty vehicles were withdrawn. For the Swedish conditions represented in this analysis, the use of long heavy duty vehicles appears to be more fuel efficient than to use conventional EU vehicles. The main conclusions of this study is that it is possible to develop an integrated assessment model method for presenting long heavy duty vehicles as a fuel efficiency option in the transport sector, but that the benefit of the option is dependent on assumptions in the input data. Improved system understanding, statistical data, and scenarios would be needed for representation of long heavy duty vehicles as a general fuel efficiency option in future analyses.
This report is only available in English.