by Walther Ploos van Amstel
“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 …
The global road-transport sector is speeding toward electrification. From delivery vans to heavy-duty trucks, the transition to zero-emission transport is gathering momentum. Yet despite clear climate ambitions and growing regulatory pressure, many operators still face the same fundamental obstacle: the high upfront cost of electric vehicles and the infrastructure needed to keep them running. A …
The decision to electrify is logical; almost inevitable. Yet saying goodbye to diesel is far from painless. Those who see the transition merely as adding electric trucks, while neglecting the phasing out of their diesel fleet, risk operational chaos: inefficiencies, reduced CO₂ savings, financial pressure, and a workforce left behind. First, there’s capacity. Halting diesel …
Four major European transport and logistics organisations – IRU, CLECAT, the European Shippers’ Council, and the Global Cold Chain Alliance – have written a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging her to abandon plans for mandatory zero-emission truck demand targets. While the sector supports the EU’s goal of decarbonising road …
Meeting Europe’s 2030 zero-emission targets for heavy-duty vehicles requires urgent action. While OEMs face binding CO₂ targets, demand-side incentives remain limited, hindering the adoption of operators. Instruments like ETS2, CO₂-based road charges, and subsidies are essential. Hydrogen vehicles, crucial for long-haul, face early-stage market challenges and infrastructure gaps. Infrastructure needs differ: urban fleets can use …
According to McKinsey, battery electric vehicle technology will be key to reducing road freight emissions and achieving global climate targets. The McKinsey analysis emphasizes the need to reduce CO2 emissions from road freight vehicles, significantly contributing to global emissions. The best way to achieve this is by transitioning from combustion engines powered by fossil fuels …
At a Climate Week NY 2024 session hosted by Smart Freight Centre and BloombergNEF (BNEF), a report, “Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicles: The Time is Now,” highlighted the pressing need to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission trucks. The Dutch government supports the report. The report provides a detailed analysis of the current state of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and emphasizes …
Charging infrastructure has become a crucial aspect of electric trucking. Companies are vying to provide comprehensive solutions, but significant challenges related to vehicles, charging networks, and the electric grid still need to be addressed at scale. According to McKinsey, expanding electric trucks will necessitate a robust charging network in Europe, where an estimated 300,000 public …
Rhenus High Tech, a leader in high-tech logistics solutions, is actively participating in the REALIST research project, which focuses on electrifying urban delivery services in Stuttgart. Collaborating with the University of Stuttgart and the city, the project explores real-world logistics operations using electric trucks through a two-year feasibility study and practical trials. As a freight …
Battery electric trucks could start delivering more of the UK’s goods much earlier than previously thought, according to new research published today. The study, commissioned from industry experts Element Energy by Transport & Environment UK, shows that battery electric trucks can already start to replace diesel trucks for most uses in the next few years. City, urban …