While European road freight is beginning its transition to zero-emission (ZE) technologies, moving from isolated pilot projects to a scalable, cross-border system remains a significant challenge. This white paper, prepared within the context of the ZEFES project, argues that regulatory, technological, and operational fragmentation are currently the primary constraints on Europe’s industrial competitiveness in this sector.
Key Insights from the ZEFES Stakeholder Survey
Drawing on a survey of 53 key stakeholders across the freight ecosystem, the paper highlights a clear consensus on the barriers and the path forward:
- Tangible Benefits Already Exist: Among those who have trialled ZE trucks, nearly 90% reported energy or fuel-cost reductions, alongside positive driver feedback and better access to low-emission zones.
- Fragmentation as a Primary Barrier: 79% of respondents identified regulatory fragmentation across Europe as a major hurdle to scaling.
- Top Deployment Hindrances: The most significant frictions cluster around charging infrastructure rules (60%) and vehicle certification and approval (59%), followed by road access and EMS (European Modular System) rules (34%).
- Preferences for Governance: Stakeholders expressed a strong preference for EU-level leadership (51%) to set the direction, but combined with multi-actor execution (38%) through joint public-private taskforces.
A New Model for Collaborative Governance
The paper proposes a three-layer governance blueprint to turn promising pilots into repeatable cross-border solutions:
- EU Convergence Pipeline: EU institutions should prioritize and sequence the harmonization of critical “operability topics,” such as charging rules-of-use and vehicle approvals.
- Corridor Execution Taskforces: Practical, public-private taskforces with named owners should be established to resolve “small” operational blockers on specific routes.
- Evidence Loop: A structured mechanism to capture “corridor learning” and translate it into standardized templates and future regulations.
Strategic Recommendations
To accelerate the transition by 2030, the white paper outlines specific actions for key actors:
- For Policymakers: Prioritize the harmonization of cross-border requirements and treat charging-rule clarity as essential “deployment infrastructure”.
- For Industry: Invest in pre-competitive alignment on technical interfaces and convert early operational learnings into reusable “playbooks” for others to follow.
- For Associations: Act as neutral conveners and translators, synthesizing real-world evidence into implementable policy proposals.
Conclusion
The transition to zero-emission freight is a system-level challenge that no single actor can solve alone. By moving toward networked governance and corridor-based execution, Europe can reduce the “approval burden,” lower transaction costs, and create the predictable conditions necessary for large-scale investment.
Read the full white paper here: click here.
