Zero-emission vehicles – operational limits for European freight transport
The transition to more sustainable road freight transport is now a shared goal at European level. However, in recent months, the issue of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) has become central to the debate between EU institutions and industry operators, particularly in relation to the European Commission's 'Greening Corporate Fleets' proposal, which includes mandatory ZEV purchase mandates for corporate fleets.
Over 5,300 transport and logistics companies in Europe have signed a petition launched by the IRU – International Road Transport Union against the introduction of mandatory zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) purchase mandates, as proposed by the European Commission’s “Greening Corporate Fleets” initiative.
The petition, entitled “Yes to Greening, No to Purchasing Mandates“, was officially delivered to the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and expresses the sector’s clear position: full support for the ecological transition, but strong opposition to regulatory obligations that are unsustainable for road transport companies.
Freight transport and decarbonisation: the sector says yes, but with realistic conditions
The signatory companies, from 26 European Union Member States, include SMEs and family businesses that represent the heart of European road freight transport.
According to the IRU, the current ZEV purchase obligations for company fleets are:
disproportionate to the operational reality of the sector,
difficult to apply to heavy goods transport,
potentially damaging to the competitiveness of European businesses.
The sector emphasises that the decarbonisation of road transport is already underway, through investments in:
fleet renewal,
alternative fuels,
fuel efficiency,
new transport management technologies.
Zero-emission vehicles and company fleets: infrastructure still lacking
One of the key points raised in the petition concerns the lack of enabling conditions for the large-scale adoption of ZEVs in freight transport:
insufficient charging infrastructure fortrucks,
very high purchase costs for electric and zero-emission vehicles,
lack of harmonised tax incentives at European level,
limited access to finance for SMEs in the transport sector.
According to the IRU, only when these conditions are truly available across the EU , the demand for zero-emission vehicles , will grow naturally, without the need to impose mandatory restrictions.
A strong signal from the European road transport sector to the EU Commission
With this initiative, the European road freight transport sector is sending a clear message to European institutions:
the green transition must respect timelines, economic sustainability and operational realities, avoiding measures that could penalise EU companies and favour non-European operators.
