Alternative Drives for Commercial Vehicles: Ambition versus Reality
Author: Matthias Gaul
From electric to hydrogen-powered through to biofuel trucks: Where do alternative drive technologies stand in the freight transport sector, and what are the real benefits for fleets and the climate?
The transition to zero-emission drives in freight transport is ongoing – however, statistics indicate that Europe is still far from achieving a breakthrough. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), only 3.6 percent of all newly registered medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the EU were zero-emission in the first half of 2025. Although this is an increase on the previous year's figure of 2.1 percent, it is still a relatively small market share. Almost four out of five zero-emission vehicles were accounted for by the five markets of Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, and France. In fact: manufacturers have delivered. All major manufacturers now offer fully electric trucks for distribution and regional transport. Ranges of 400 to 600 kilometers or more are no longer a problem – and with the advent of megawatt charging, batteries will be chargeable from 20 to 80 percent within half an hour.
Charging infrastructure is the bottleneck of the transformation
Companies like Daimler Truck, Traton Group, and Volvo Group are not only investing heavily in developing the relevant vehicles, but also in expanding the charging infrastructure. This is urgently needed. According to ACEA, there are currently only around 1,100 public fast-charging stations above 350 kilowatts across the EU that are actually suitable for heavy trucks. Many of these cannot be accessed by semi-trailers. The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) requires EU member states to provide high-performance charging locations along at least 15 percent of the trans-European transport network by the end of 2025. The goal is to have comprehensive coverage by 2030, but expansion is slow, especially outside Western Europe.
Commercial vehicles with alternative drives are slowly but surely making their way onto Europe's roads. However, despite technical advances, the market remains small. In particular, a lack of charging points and suboptimal framework conditions—an issue covered in the presentations and discussions at the 6th
DEKRA Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference
in Berlin in late October—are slowing down the transition towards a climate-neutral transport sector.
An alternative for logistics: focusing on battery swapping
For depot charging, the necessary grid connections are also lacking in many places. New approaches such as “battery swapping,” i.e., replacing empty batteries with full ones, could offer an alternative here. On behalf of several logistics companies, Fraunhofer IML is investigating how such exchange stations can be operated economically. In China, the technology has long been standard – a truck can be ready to go again in just a few minutes. The advantages: the truck is back on the road and ready for use in no time, and the grids are relieved.
Battery-electric trucks are the cheapest choice for zero-emission transport
Besides infrastructure, cost-effectiveness is still the main priority. According to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), battery-electric trucks will be the most cost-effective option for zero-emission freight transport in most classes by 2030. Light and medium-duty electric trucks are already on par with diesel vehicles in terms of total cost of ownership (TCO) in urban traffic. Cost parity for heavy-duty tractor trucks in long-distance transport is expected to be achieved in 2026. The picture is different for alternative fuels: according to the ICCT, trucks running on HVO, biodiesel, or e-diesel could have 15 to 45 percent higher operating costs than battery-electric models by 2030. They remain a transitional solution – especially for existing fleets and applications that are difficult to electrify.
Hydrogen as a long-haul solution
Hydrogen continues to be a promising option for particularly long distances and high payloads. Fuel cell trucks score points with short refueling times and ranges of over 700 kilometers. But here, too, refueling stations are scarce: according to the European Alternative Fuels Observatory, there are currently only 150 hydrogen stations in operation across the EU with 350 bar pressure that can supply heavy-duty vehicles. Rental models like that of the Cologne-based company Hylane, which offers hydrogen trucks including maintenance and insurance, are designed to make it easier for companies to get started.
Read more on hydrogen as a sustainable fuel for transportation and its role for a emission-free future
here.
Reducing CO₂ emissions of new trucks
The political goals are clearly defined: From 2030, CO₂ emissions of new trucks must be reduced by 45 percent compared to 2019, then by 65 percent by 2035 and by 90 percent by 2040. There are also new requirements for trailers and semi-trailers: As of 2030, they too will have to reduce their CO₂ emissions by 10 percent. For manufacturers, this implies enormous investments – and the risk of substantial penalties of €4,250 per gram of CO₂ per ton-kilometer if the targets are not met. Depending on the number of trailers sold, this can quickly add up to three-digit million Euros, threatening the very existence of companies. Industry representatives are therefore calling for efficiency to be assessed not only in terms of the vehicle itself, but across its entire life cycle, including production, materials, and recycling.
Transforming freight transport requires planning security
Transforming freight transport requires enormous investments—and trust that these investments will pay off. Forwarders and logistics companies need planning security, stable electricity prices, and reliable subsidy structures. The CO₂-differentiated truck toll in Germany is considered the right incentive, but many EU countries still lack such instruments. Without economic stability, however, the ramp-up of zero-emission fleets will not succeed to the extent desired.
This transformation is also necessary in view of the predicted continuing increase in freight transport. According to the European Environment Agency, road freight transport in the EU could increase to around 2,500 billion ton-kilometers by 2050 without political intervention (business-as-usual scenario). That would be an increase of around 30 percent compared to 1,900 billion ton-kilometers in 2020. Despite all efforts to promote rail and waterway transport, trucks remain the backbone of logistics. No matter how high the increase ultimately turns out to be, setting the right course is more important than ever to ensure that commercial vehicle transport is as sustainable and efficient as possible. Above all, joint action by politicians, industry, and energy suppliers is vital.
The following cornerstones are key to achieving the goal of climate-neutral road freight transport:
- Massive acceleration in the expansion of fast-charging stations (megawatt charging) and hydrogen filling stations for heavy-duty vehicles.
- Economic incentives and predictable framework conditions for freight forwarders and truck manufacturers.
- Scale effects in the series production of electric trucks and fuel cell trucks to reduce acquisition costs.
- Vehicles suitable for all areas of application – from urban distribution to long-distance transport.
- Harmonization of regulations in Europe so that the transition is not only successful in pioneering countries.