1. GPP Training toolkit 7.9. Road Transport
Module aims: To present the European Commission GPP criteria for Road Transport, introduce the key environmental impacts of the product group, the availability and verification of green alternatives, and also non-procurement strategies for reducing environmental impacts in daily operations.
This document forms part of the EU GPP Training Toolkit. The full toolkit can be found on the European Commission GPP website:

2. Module 7.9 – Road Transport
GPP Training Toolkit
Module 1: Introduction
Module 4: Needs Assessment
Module 2: Strategic Aspects of GPP
Module 5: Circular Procurement
Module 3: Legal Aspects of GPP
Module 6: Market Engagement
Module 7: Operational (Road Transport)
Module 7.9 – Road Transport

3. Environmental impacts
How does road transport affect the environment?
Transport represents almost ¼ GHG emissions in Europe
Main cause of air pollution in cities
Road transport accounts for more that 70% of all GHG emissions from transport (2014)
Source:
Module 7.9 – Road Transport

4. Module 7.9 – Road Transport
Scope
What is included in the EU GPP Criteria
The following categories of vehicles and services are included:
Purchase, lease or rental of cars, light commercial vehicles and L-category vehicles
Mobility services
Purchase or lease of buses
Bus services
Waste collection trucks
Waste collection services
Post, courier and moving services
The following categories of vehicles and services were included:
Purchase, lease or rental of cars, light commercial vehicles and L-category (mopeds, motorcycles etc.)
Mobility services (including special purpose/non-scheduled passenger transport services, taxi services, car sharing, cycles)
Purchase or lease of buses
Bus services
Waste Collection trucks
Waste collection services
Post, courier and moving services
EU GPP Criteria for Road Transport:
For definitions see:
EU GPP Criteria for Road Transport
Module 7.9 – Road Transport

5. Module 7.9 – Road Transport
Needs Assessment
Meeting mobility needs
Mobility needs don’t always require new vehicles
Can utilisation rates of existing vehicles be improved?
Do alternatives exist? i.e. teleconferencing, public transport passes, car or bike sharing schemes etc.
Reducing emissions
Training in eco-driving and regular maintenance can also help to reduce existing vehicles CO2 and other polluting emissions
Example: Increasing fleet management efficiency through car sharing (Bremen, Germany)
More information in: Module 4: Needs Assessment
Module 7.9 – Road Transport

6. Module 7.9 – Road Transport
Overview
EU GPP road transport approach
Require criteria on:
type-approval CO2 emissions for cars and LCVs, and specific technologies for heavy duty vehicles and L-category vehicles
air pollutant emissions performance for cars and LCVs, and specific technologies for heavy duty vehicles and L-category vehicles
rolling resistance of tyres
energy efficiency for electric cars and LCVs
battery warranties
vehicle and tyres noise emissions
tyres and lubricants for maintenance activities
Plus:
Require key competences and the application of key environmental management measures and practices from service providers
Require adequate and frequent training fro the staff of service providers
Module 7.9 – Road Transport

7. Module 7.9 – Road Transport
EU GPP Criteria
Road transport (2019)
Examples:
Selection criteria (SC) – for services: relevant experience necessary in: identifying, evaluating and implementing the available technologies and measures to reduce GHG emissions and air pollutant emissions; and monitoring and reporting procedures of the GHG emissions
Technical specifications (TS) – for electric vehicles: must provide a minimum battery warranty of km or 8 years against capacity loss below 70% of its original value at delivery
Award criteria (AC) – for cars, LCVs, or L-type vehicles: points awarded according to the range the car can travel without any tailpipe emissions, in proportion to the capability of the vehicles
For full criteria see:
EU GPP Criteria for Road Transport
EU GPP criteria are divided into:
selection criteria – used to assess the ability of an operator to perform a contract. Can only include criteria specifically related to the subject matter of the contract. (transport example – for services: The tenderer must have relevant experience in: identifying, evaluating and implementing the available technologies and measures to reduce well-to-wheels GHG emissions and air pollutant emissions; and monitoring and reporting procedures of the GHG emissions.)
technical specifications – used to set minimum requirements that must be met by all tenders. Must relate to the characteristics of the work, supply or service being purchased. (transport example – for electric vehicles: the tenderer must provide a minimum warranty of the battery of km or 8 years against capacity loss below 70% of its original value at delivery according to EN 62660)
award criteria – used to stimulate additional environmental performance, but are not mandatory (transport example - for cars, LCVs, or L-type vehicles: points will be awarded to those vehicles that can demonstrate a minimum zero tailpipe emission capability, meaning the range the car can travel without any tailpipe emissions, in proportion to the capability of the vehicles (the contracting authority will set the minimum zero tailpipe emissions range reference threshold according to the expected use profiles in the call for tender – but a proposed default range could be 40km))
contract performance clauses – specify how a contract must be carried out. Relevant to service contracts (transport example –services: among other things, all drivers involved in carrying out the service for the duration of the contract period must be trained in a recognised institution on environmentally-conscious driving on a regular basis to increase fuel efficiency, and must regularly receive information on their fuel efficiency performance (at least once per month).
For each set of criteria there are two levels of ambition:
Core – designed to allow easy application of GPP, focussing on the key area(s) of environmental performance of a product and aimed at keeping administrative costs for companies to a minimum
Comprehensive – take into account more aspects or higher levels of environmental performance, for use by authorities that want to go further in supporting environmental and innovation goals.
(transport example – bus services: all buses used in carrying out the service must meet at least Euro V, plus a specified proportion must meet Euro VI:
Core: 2019 – 48%, 2020 – 65%, 2021 – 64%
Comprehensive: 2019 – 68%, 2020 – 76%, 2021 – 84%
For full criteria see EU GPP Criteria for Road Transport at:
Module 7.9 – Road Transport

8. Module 7.9 – Road Transport
EU GPP Criteria
Road transport (2019) (cont.)
Examples (cont.):
Contract performance clauses –for services. All drivers must be trained on a regular basis to increase fuel efficiency, and must receive regular info about their performance
For full criteria see:
EU GPP Criteria for Road Transport
EU GPP criteria are divided into:
selection criteria – used to assess the ability of an operator to perform a contract. Can only include criteria specifically related to the subject matter of the contract. (transport example – for services: The tenderer must have relevant experience in: identifying, evaluating and implementing the available technologies and measures to reduce well-to-wheels GHG emissions and air pollutant emissions; and monitoring and reporting procedures of the GHG emissions.)
technical specifications – used to set minimum requirements that must be met by all tenders. Must relate to the characteristics of the work, supply or service being purchased. (transport example – for electric vehicles: the tenderer must provide a minimum warranty of the battery of km or 8 years against capacity loss below 70% of its original value at delivery according to EN 62660)
award criteria – used to stimulate additional environmental performance, but are not mandatory (transport example - for cars, LCVs, or L-type vehicels: points will be awarded to those vehicles that can demonstrate a minimum zero tailpipe emission capability, meaning the range the car can travel without any tailpipe emissions, in proportion to the capability of the vehicles (the contracting authority will set the minimum zero tailpipe emissions range reference threshold according to the expected use profiles in the call for tender – but a proposed default range could be 40km))
contract performance clauses – specify how a contract must be carried out. Relevant to service contracts (transport example –services: among other things, all drivers involved in carrying out the service for the duration of the contract period must be trained in a recognised institution on environmentally-conscious driving on a regular basis to increase fuel efficiency, and must regularly receive information on their fuel efficiency performance (at least once per month).
For each set of criteria there are two levels of ambition:
Core – designed to allow easy application of GPP, focussing on the key area(s) of environmental performance of a product and aimed at keeping administrative costs for companies to a minimum
Comprehensive – take into account more aspects or higher levels of environmental performance, for use by authorities that want to go further in supporting environmental and innovation goals.
(transport example – bus services: all buses used in carrying out the service must meet at least Euro V, plus a specified proportion must meet Euro VI:
Core: 2019 – 48%, 2020 – 65%, 2021 – 64%
Comprehensive: 2019 – 68%, 2020 – 76%, 2021 – 84%
For full criteria see EU GPP Criteria for Road Transport at:
Module 7.9 – Road Transport

9. Module 7.9 – Road Transport
Verification
Checking compliance with GPP criteria for transport
What to ask for?
When?
Self-declaration
Certificates
Technical sheets
Test reports (or other appropriate forms of proof, such as technical dossiers (where test reports are not available)
Compliance with GPP criteria should be assessed:
At the selection stage (in two-stage procedures);
During evaluation of tenders; and
During the contract execution phase.
It is up to the public authority to decide at which stage such test results should be provided. In general, it does not seem necessary to require all tenderers to provide test results from the outset. To reduce the burden on tenderers and public authorities, a self-declaration could be considered sufficient when submitting bids. Then, for one-off supply contracts, the bidder with the most economically advantageous tender could be required to provide proof (for example test reports).
For framework agreements, the point at which proof has to be provided will depend on the specific set-up of the contract: for framework agreements with a single operator, the same approach as one-off supply contracts may be appropriate. Where several potential suppliers are pre-selected for a framework, requesting test results during contract execution may be appropriate (and it is recommended that the contracting authority’s ability to do so should be explicitly included as a contract performance clause).
Please also note that, according to Art. 44 (2) of Directive 2014/24/EU, contracting authorities must accept other appropriate means of proof. This could include a technical dossier of the manufacturer where the economic operator concerned had no access to test reports or no possibility of obtaining them within the relevant time limits. This is under the condition that the lack of access was not attributable to the economic operator concerned and that the economic operator concerned proves that the works, supplies or services provided by it meet the requirements or criteria set out in the technical specifications, the award criteria or the contract performance conditions. In case there is a reference to a certificate/test report drawn up by a specific conformity assessment body for the execution of the tests, contracting authorities must also accept certificates/test reports issued by other equivalent assessment bodies.
For full verification instructions see:
EU GPP Criteria for Road Transport
Module 7.9 – Road Transport

10. Module 7.9 – Road Transport
Verification
Examples from the criteria
TS1: Type-approval CO2 value (comprehensive)
CO2 emissions of cars, light commercial vehicles and L- category vehicles must not exceed the following:
2019: 40 CO2 g/km
2020: 35 CO2 g/km
2021: 25 CO2 g/km
Verification: The tenderer must provide the vehicle’s certificate of conformity
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11. Module 7.9 – Road Transport
Verification
Examples from the criteria
TS6: Minimum warranty (electric vehicles – cars, light commercial vehicles and L-category vehicles) The tenderer must provide a minimum warranty for the battery of km or 8 years against capacity loss below 70% of its original value at delivery (EN 62660) Verification: The tenderer must present a declaration with the warranty terms.
Module 7.9 – Road Transport

12. Legislation supporting GPP
Clean Vehicles Directive (CVD)
This Directive aims at the broad market introduction of environmentally- friendly vehicles.
Requires that energy and environmental impacts linked to operation of vehicles over their whole lifetime are taken into account in purchase of road transport vehicles, either by:
Setting technical specifications for energy and environmental performance
Including energy and environmental impacts as award criteria
The Clean Vehicles Directive is currently being revised, including proposals for new CO2 and air pollution thresholds.
The results of the CVD have been limited, in part because of the ineffectiveness and complexity of the monetisation methodology applied in the directive.
The revised directive again aims to promote clean mobility in public procurement tenders.
For light-duty vehicles, the proposal provides a definition of clean vehicles based on a combined CO2 and air pollutant emissions thresholds, while it uses a definition based on alternative fuels (electricity, hydrogen, natural gas including biomethane) for heavy-duty vehicles. It also makes it possible to adopt a delegated act to use emission thresholds for heavy-duty vehicles after a future adoption of CO2 emission standards for such vehicles. CO2 Emission thresholds for light-duty vehicles range between 25 and 40 grams CO2/km for 2025 and drops to zero in Emissions of air pollutants must be at least 20 % below the emission limits set in Annex I of Regulation (EC) 715/2007 or its successors. The proposal sets minimum procurement targets for each category of vehicle and each Member State. For light-duty vehicles, Member States must reach a share between 16 % and 35 %. For buses, Member States' targets range from 29 % to 50 % (2025) and from 43 % to 75 % (2030), and for trucks from 6 % to 10 % (2025) and from 7 % to 15 % (2030). The proposal introduces a reporting and monitoring framework and abolishes the methodology for monetisation of external effects.
Progress towards this revision can be tracked at: train/theme-resilient-energy-union-with-a-climate-change-policy/file-jd-clean-vehicles-directive- review.
See also the Clean Fleets project, for guidance on applying the CVD in practice: fleets.eu/fileadmin/files/documents/Publications/Clean_Fleets_Guide_screen_version.pdf
More information in:
Clean Vehicles Directive 2006/33/EC
Review of Clean Vehicles Directive
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13. Module 7.9 – Road Transport
Market Availability
Ecolabels for road transport
There is no EU Ecolabel for road transport, however:
Blue Angel (Germany) provides ecolabels for the following:
Car sharing
Car sharing for fleets of electric vehicles
Low noise and low pollutant vehicles
Bra Miljöval (Sweden)
Courier/ delivery services
Credibility matters!
Type I ecolabels can be a source of additional criteria (when Linked to Subject Matter!)
‘Type I’ ecolabels = verified by a third party and awarded on the basis of life cycle impacts
See Module 3 (Legal) for more on ecolabels
There is no EU Ecolabel for road transport, however:
Blue Angel (Germany) provides ecolabels for the following:
Car sharing:
Car sharing for fleets of electric vehicles:
Low noise and low pollutant vehicles:
Bra Miljöval (Sweden)
Courier/ delivery services:
Depending on an authority’s needs and priorities, a procurer may wish to develop their own or add additional criteria to a call for tender.
Type I ecolabels can be a good place to find additional, verifiable criteria.
However it is also necessary to be aware, that all selection criteria, technical specifications, award criteria and contract clauses must all be linked to the subject-matter (LtSM) of the contract
The EU Ecolabel for lubricants can be used to verify award criteria for lubricant oils, hydraulic fluids and grease
Module 7.9 – Road Transport

14. Module 7.9 – Road Transport
Life Cycle Costing
LCC of road transport
LCC = considering all the costs that will be incurred during the lifetime of a product, work or service
Estimated LCC of vehicles and services:
Cars and LCVs with strict CO2 emissions reduce LCC by 15-20%
Electric buses reduce LCC by %
Eco-driving training reduces LCC by 0.5-2%
LCC of vehicles:
Total cost of ownership:
Acquisition costs
Fuel costs
Maintenance costs
Insurance
Taxes
Cost of externalities: emissions of CO2 and NOX, NMHCs and PM
Life Cycle Costing (LCC) is a methodology that can be used to estimate all the costs that will be incurred throughout the lifetime of a product, work or service. By applying LCC, public purchasers can take into account some cost aspects which are not reflected in the purchase price (such as resource use, maintenance and disposal), thus making a better long-term investment decision.
Estimated LCA of vehicles and services:
Cars and LCVs with strict CO2 emissions: the purchase cost is about 5 – 15% more expensive depending on the size and fuel of the vehicle, but the LCC is reduced 15 – 20% due to the reduction in fuel consumption and cost of externalities (if taxes are included).
Electric buses: require a much higher upfront cost, but the LCC is reduced by an estimated 2.5 – 6% if taxes are included, due to a reduction of energy costs and costs of externalities. Costs will depend on local conditions and infrastructure availability, but are also expected to decrease in near future as batteries become cheaper.
Eco-driving training for drivers of post and courier services: the estimated cost of a driving course can range between euro (including training cost and loss of man hours), but the LCC is reduced 0.5 – 2% due to reduced fuel consumption and cost of externalities (if taxes are included).
For more information on the LCC of road transport, see the Technical Background Report:
For more on the LCC of road transport see the Technical Background Report
Module 7.9 – Road Transport

15. Case Studies
Framework for alternatively powered vehicles
(Federal Procurement Agency, Austria)
Towards zero emission public transport
(Province of North Brabant, the Netherlands)
E-bikes for mail deliveries
(Croatian Post service)
GPP Helpdesk For further support on GPP, contact the EU’s free Helpdesk
Framework for alternatively powered vehicles (Federal Procurement Agency, Austria):
Towards zero emission public transport (Province of North Brabant, the Netherlands):
E-bikes for mail deliveries (Croatian Post service):
Toolkit developed for the European Commission by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
Module Author: ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
Owner, Editor: European Commission, DG Environment, 2019
Photos: courtesy of Pixabay.com under Creative Commons CCO
Disclaimer: This toolkit is an indicative document of the Commission services and cannot be considered binding to this institution in any way. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use that might be made of the information in this document.
Module 7.9 – Road Transport