Volta Trucks/Siemens/Maersk: Emission-free trucks from 2035

The EU must take a leadership role in the interests of the climate and future competitiveness by ensuring that all new trucks are emission-free from 2035 onwards, says the corporate coalition EV100+. In a letter to the EU Commission signed by brands such as Siemens, Volta Trucks, Nippon Express, Contargo, Maersk, Unilever, and PepsiCo, it states that the deadline of 2035 is not only feasible but also necessary to completely replace fossil-fueled truck fleets in time and thus achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

Binding regulations needed

A zero-emissions target for new trucks by 2035 would provide vehicle manufacturers with investment security to expand their offerings of battery electric and green hydrogen-powered vehicles, the companies further write. Major truck manufacturers have already announced that half of their sales should be generated by emission-free vehicles by 2030. However, binding regulations are required to ensure that investments and the ramp-up of offerings proceed in a timely manner. In some niche segments – such as construction vehicles – an extension of the deadline to 2040 is possible. 

"We support the European Commission's leadership role in the transition from fossil-fuelled trucks to clean, emission-free alternatives that will not only ensure compliance with EU and international climate goals but also support Europe's future industrial competitiveness," says Sandra Roling, Transport Director of the Climate Group.

But higher CO2 reduction targets for truck manufacturers of -30 percent in 2027 and -65 percent in 2030 are also required to ensure that the supply of cleaner trucks increases in the second half of this decade, the companies write. They continue to emphasize that the EU Commission should not include fuel credits in CO2 targets for trucks, as these would not contribute to solving the emissions problem of heavy commercial vehicles.

"Decarbonizing our logistics is crucial to achieving our net-zero target for 2039. As cargo owners, we have made significant progress in limiting our emissions through critical efficiency improvements and reducing the number of trucks on the roads, but as an industry, we can do more. Together with our EV100+ partners, we are sending a strong signal to the European Commission and the entire industry to set all new trucks on the path to zero emissions by 2035. The solutions for decarbonization are already there – but we need to increase the supply of clean trucks," says Michelle Grose, Vice President, Global Logistics and Execution, Unilever.

Rapid buildup of charging infrastructure

The companies also call on EU lawmakers to finalize the ambitious targets for charging and refueling infrastructure – as part of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation – as quickly as possible. A review of the law in 2024 is intended to ensure that the targets align with the expected market uptake of electric and hydrogen trucks, it says. Innovative companies and SMEs will also need to be specifically financially supported to cover the initially higher acquisition costs of emission-free trucks.

"Decarbonizing heavy transport by 2035 is realistic but requires ambitious decisions and significant investments. With the first of DFDS's 125 electric trucks in operation and the rest coming in 2023, our investments are being put into action. However, challenges remain without a rapid build-up of charging and refueling infrastructure. To successfully navigate this transition, we need an ambitious goal for emission-free trucks by 2035 and timely sufficient power grid capacities," says Torben Carlsen, CEO, DFDS.