by Walther Ploos van Amstel
The article “Modeling the dynamics of freight transport decarbonization: A review and research agenda” (Tavasszy et al., 2026) examines how existing freight transport models largely fail to address the dynamic processes required to achieve climate neutrality. The core question is not whether decarbonization is technically possible, but how long it will take and how reliably …
Freight transport accounts for a substantial share of global greenhouse-gas emissions and is expected to grow strongly in the coming decades. Against this backdrop, a new paper examines how academic research addresses the decarbonisation of road freight and urban logistics. The results reveal a rapidly expanding field that remains surprisingly fragmented and heavily technology-centred. Rapid …
Europe’s transition to zero-emission trucks (ZETs) has reached a decisive phase. While EU CO₂ standards for heavy-duty vehicles are among the most ambitious globally, the pace of real-world deployment still lags what is needed to meet the 2030 target of roughly 35% zero-emission truck sales. The Smart Freight Centre report, with contributions from ACEA and …
Heavy-duty road transport is one of the most persistent sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing its climate impact is essential to meeting global decarbonisation targets. In their review in Nature, Zhang and colleagues evaluate the feasibility, economic viability, and emissions reduction potential of key clean pathways: chiefly battery electric trucks (BETs), fuel cell electric …
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 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 …
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 …
The European Union (EU) has agreed to decrease carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from trucks, buses, and trailers. Negotiators from the EU Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional political agreement on CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs). The primary goal is to reduce CO2 emissions in the road transport sector and establish …
Cars, vans, trucks, and buses will have to be equipped with advanced safety features. Vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians, to be better protected; 25.300 people died on EU roads in 2017 and 135.000 were seriously injured.