by Walther Ploos van Amstel
The supply chain is often described as the invisible backbone of the global economy. As long as goods circulate, trucks roll, and ships dock, no one pays much attention. But as recent years have shown, when a link breaks, the world notices immediately. For decades, logistics has been a reactive industry, fixing problems after they …
As the European Commission prepares its new European Strategy for Housing Construction, POLIS has issued a clear and timely message: Europe cannot solve its housing challenges without integrating transport, sustainability, and regional cooperation into the heart of the strategy. POLIS welcomes the Commission’s ambition to strengthen Europe’s housing sector—not only as a driver of economic …
The European truck industry stands at a critical turning point. Transitioning to zero-emission (ZE) trucks is no longer just a climate ambition. It has become central to preserving the sector’s long-term competitiveness. McKinsey identifies three interlinked pillars that must advance together: a competitive and broad ZE-truck offering, a robust charging and refueling infrastructure, and enabling …
The electrification of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) is progressing far too slowly to meet Europe’s climate targets. That’s not just a policy issue—it’s something cities experience on the ground every day. Despite growing manufacturer investment and an expanding range of electric models, real-world adoption is lagging. ACEA’s new position paper makes it clear: at the …
The debate surrounding the Total Cost of Ownership of electric trucks typically revolves around one question: when will electric driving be as cost-effective as diesel? But that’s not the real contest. The actual competitive battle is about energy parity: who drives on cheap, reliable electricity and who doesn’t. That’s where a divide is emerging that …
“Why has it suddenly become so expensive?” a long-term customer asked last week when the account manager explained that the company would soon start driving electric trucks. That is a fair question. Anyone looking only at the price tag will be shocked: electric trucks are more expensive to purchase, charging infrastructure adds costs, and planning …
Federated learning (FL) and collaborative AI (CAI) offer new ways to make city logistics more efficient, sustainable, and resilient while protecting sensitive data. In traditional logistics, sharing operational data between companies or with cities is often difficult due to competition and privacy concerns. FL solves this by allowing each company to train AI models locally …
Circular models can be both sustainable and profitable—if developed with the right partners. But is municipal waste collection truly a core competence? Urban waste collection is a complex challenge. In many cities, residents and businesses struggle with persistent litter on the streets. Despite the efforts of frontline staff, stricter rules, and awareness campaigns, waste problems …
Which frontier technologies matter most for companies in 2025? McKinsey’s annual tech trends report highlights the latest technology breakthroughs, talent trends, and use cases, as well as their potential impact on companies across various sectors, such as mobility. The mobility landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, shaped by technological innovation, sustainability demands, and evolving urban dynamics. …
The strategic design of city logistics networks is fundamental to enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. Key dimensions of this strategic design include network structure, mode selection, fleet composition, governance, service design, regulatory adaptation, and digital infrastructure. The network is determined by balancing high service standards, economic efficiency, optimized network configuration, and market responsiveness. A complex …