Carriers with trucks powered by natural gas can already apply for exemption from tolls in Germany. However, the exemption will only be effective from next year.
German Federal Office of Road Transport (BAG) informs that carriers whose trucks are powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas) and CNG (compressed natural gas) will benefit from the toll exemption only with the entry into force of the amendment of the Act on levying tolls on federal roads, i.e. from January 1, 2019.
How to apply for exemption from fees?
A carrier wishing to take advantage of the exemption must complete the form on the Toll Collect website (last column: exemption from the obligation to pay road tolls) and mark item 8N, informs BAG. The application together with a copy of the vehicle registration document should be sent to Toll Collect. Then, the German operator will send confirmation of the exemption of the given vehicle from toll.
Savings of carriers who have vehicles powered by natural gas fuels in their fleets will be significant. The toll rates for vehicles powered by diesel range from 8,0 to 17,4 euro cents per kilometer depending on vehicle weight and the number of axes. On top of that carriers should calculate additional pollution costs. For example, an 18-ton truck with four or more axes will pay 18.7 cents per kilometer (Euro class 6), or 19.8 cents per kilometer (Euro class 5).
The toll exemption for natural gas trucks will last until the end of 2020. Later, trucks will be exempt from noise pollution (2 cents per kilometer).
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Photo: Toll Collect