by Walther Ploos van Amstel
With the new round of the Dutch AanZET subsidy now open, the electrification of heavy-duty road transport is getting another push. It is badly needed. Many carriers still underestimate how fast and how fundamentally the sector is about to change. Decarbonisation requires uncomfortable strategic choices: invest, cooperate, or outsource. Companies without a strategy risk being …
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 …
ICCT published an interesting blog about Zero-emission zones: The Netherlands’ path to cleaner urban freight. The blog presents lessons for other countries. But are these lessons true? What is really going on in the Netherlands? Are zero-emissions zones a no-regret measure for cities worldwide? As of January 1, 2025, sixteen Dutch municipalities have implemented zero-emission …
In 2023, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management launched an action plan to make temperature-controlled transport more sustainable. A key knowledge gap was the contribution of transport refrigeration units (TRUs) to overall emissions. To close this gap, TNO conducted an extensive measurement program on TRU emissions in real-world operations. Monitoring TRUs in practice …
According to the latest EAFO data, pure-electric drive continued to widen its lead in April 2025. In the passenger-car segment (M1), battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 15.27% of new registrations, nearly double the 8.69% share held by plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Liquified petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles chipped in 2.92%, while compressed natural gas (CNG) and fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) …
The Dutch installation industry has an annual turnover of approximately €33 billion and employs around 180,000 people. About 29% of installation revenue is spent on maintenance contracts, troubleshooting, and modifications such as short-term and customer-specific projects. Around 80-85% of service visits to buildings involve residential properties, while 15-20% concern commercial buildings. Service engineers drive 264 …
In May 2023, new H2020 research opportunities are open for zero-emission e-commerce and freight delivery and return choices by retailers, consumers, and local authorities. The total indicative budget for the topic is euro 6 million. Projects are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes: Better understanding of customers’ willingness and motivations to choose …