Making zero-emission road freight a reality

The European Clean Trucking Alliance, a coalition of European key players in road freight, is launching a new position paper to present legislation that accelerates the transition towards zero-emission trucks and revision of the alternative fuels infrastructure.

Launched in 2020, the European Clean Trucking Alliance (ECTA) is a unique coalition bringing together major hauliers, logistics as well as consumer goods companies across Europe that use trucks for their business, all calling for the decarbonization of road freight. POLIS is a proud member of this initiative.

The European Clean Trucking Alliance (ECTA), just released a new position paper that urges the Commission to develop a policy framework to make zero-emission freight a reality. The landscape of road transport decarbonization is changing: truck manufacturers are ramping up their efforts to make more sustainable trucks and zero-emission trucks are arriving on the market. However, the infrastructure to operate such vehicles is largely missing, hampering the transition towards greener freight mobility. 

Each year, there are 40 million trucks and vans that carry out over 75% of all freight transported across the EU. The Alliance position paper published in preparation for the launch of the EU's Fit for 55 package, expected to be released in June, that will shape decisive regulations for the future of road transport.

The upcoming revisions are an opportunity to ensure seamless cross-border operations and regional delivery operations, develop legislation for zero-emissions truck infrastructure across the EU, facilitate the transformation of  TEN-T core network corridors in zero-emission freight corridors by 2027.

Ensuring the necessary infrastructure for zero-emission vans across Europe is necessary to tackle CO2 emissions, as they are responsible for 22% of road transport emissions while accounting for only 2% of vehicles on the road. Despite this alarming situation, only 1.4% of new vans registered in the EU in 2019 was electric and according to preliminary data only 2% in 2021.

To stay on course for zero emissions by 2050, the Alliance wants to take the opportunity to make almost CO2-free city logistics in major urban centres by 2030 and implement a policy framework that ensures the proper supply, use and development of zero-emission vans and their infrastructure. 

Read the full position paper here.