The European Union is pursuing ambitious climate goals, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050, a monumental task that places significant pressure on its transport sector. Achieving EU Net Zero Transport is critical, as this sector, responsible for a quarter of the EU’s energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, faces a critical juncture. While regulatory efforts intensify, the transition to zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles is proving slower than anticipated, prompting calls for course correction and harmonization of emissions reporting to guide the journey towards sustainability and meet EU net zero goals.
Harmonizing Emissions Reporting for EU Net Zero Transport
A cornerstone of the EU’s strategy to decarbonize transport is the “CountEmissions EU” proposal, tabled by the European Commission in July 2023 as part of the broader ‘Greening Freight’ package. This initiative seeks to establish a unified framework for calculating and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across all transport modes, for both freight and passenger services. The core of the proposal is a common methodology, based on the international standard EN ISO 14083:2023, which employs a “well-to-wheel” approach. This method accounts for emissions from both the use of a vehicle and the provision of its energy. The objective is to ensure that transport emissions data is reliable, accurate, and comparable, thereby preventing greenwashing and empowering consumers and businesses to make more informed, sustainable choices for EU Net Zero Transport. While the framework itself is not mandatory for all businesses, any entity choosing to calculate and disclose its transport-related GHG emissions must adhere to the CountEmissions EU rules to guarantee data integrity and a level playing field, vital for effective EU Net Zero Transport policy.
This legislative proposal has navigated through the EU’s institutions, with the European Parliament and the Council of the EU engaging in discussions and negotiations to refine its details. The Parliament adopted its first-reading position in April 2024, and subsequent committee votes have paved the way for inter-institutional negotiations, underscoring the ongoing legislative process to finalize this critical piece of environmental policy for EU Net Zero Transport.
The Reality on the Road: Slow Adoption of Zero-Emission Trucks for EU Net Zero Transport
Despite legislative momentum and growing awareness, the decarbonization of heavy-duty road transport, particularly long-haul trucking, presents considerable challenges for EU Net Zero Transport. As of 2024, zero-emission trucks (ZETs) constitute a mere fraction of the total fleet. Reports indicate that ZETs made up approximately 0.25% of the EU’s total truck fleet in 2024, with around 15,000 electric trucks and 170 hydrogen lorries registered. In the heavy truck segment (vehicles over 12 tonnes), zero-emission models accounted for just 1.2% of sales in the first half of 2024, a slight increase from 0.7% in the same period of 2023. While sales are accelerating, with a 53% surge in ZET heavy truck sales in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year, this trajectory remains far from what is needed to meet climate targets for EU Net Zero Transport.
Navigating the Hurdles: Costs, Infrastructure, and CEE Challenges for EU Net Zero Transport
Several significant barriers impede the widespread adoption of ZETs for EU Net Zero Transport. The upfront purchase cost of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles is substantially higher – often at least twice that of traditional diesel models – posing a major financial strain, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the road freight emissions sector. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculations, while increasingly favorable for ZETs in some scenarios, still present a disadvantage in many heavy-duty, long-haul applications.
Complementing the cost barrier is the critical lack of adequate charging and refueling infrastructure. The development of a robust network for on-the-go charging and hydrogen refueling requires massive investment, estimated in the billions of euros, and a coordinated effort between infrastructure providers, energy companies, and vehicle manufacturers to support the EU Net Zero Transport agenda. Operational challenges, such as limited model availability, varying payload capacities, and longer charging times compared to refueling diesel trucks, further complicate the transition for fleet operators aiming for EU Net Zero Transport.
These challenges are particularly acute for countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), where SMEs dominate the road freight sector and may face greater economic disruption from the rapid adoption of expensive new technologies. The harmonization of policies and access to financial support mechanisms are crucial for these regions to keep pace with the green transition and achieve EU Net Zero Transport goals.
Industry Voices: Advocacy for a Coherent Path Forward in EU Net Zero Transport
Companies within the transport sector are actively advocating for supportive policies. Eurowag, a key player in payment and mobility solutions for commercial road transport, has been at the forefront of this advocacy. Through initiatives like its “Call for Action,” endorsed by over 30 organizations, Eurowag is urging the European Commission to “correct the course” and implement a more effective strategy for EU Net Zero Transport. Their call emphasizes technology neutrality, advocating for the urgent need for a full range of alternative fuels (including bio-LNG and HVO) alongside electrification and hydrogen to decarbonize transport sector. They also stress the importance of a coherent policy framework offering enabling conditions for companies to transition, harmonized implementation of EU sustainability directives, and recognizing the distinct challenges for light-duty versus heavy-duty vehicles. Eurowag is also collaborating with industry bodies like Fleet Cards Europe (FCE) and the Network for Sustainable Mobility (NSM) to drive this agenda forward for EU Net Zero Transport.
The Global and European Outlook for EU Net Zero Transport
On a global scale, while there is visible progress with falling per capita emissions, growing renewable energy deployment, and over 100 countries setting net-zero targets, the overall pace remains insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal. The transport sector worldwide experienced an increase in CO2 emissions in 2022. Within the EU, the transport sector’s emissions are a significant hurdle to achieving the bloc’s climate objectives, with current measures falling short of decarbonization targets for EU Net Zero Transport.
The EU has set ambitious intermediate climate targets, including a provisional political agreement for a 90% net GHG emission reduction by 2040 compared to 1990 levels and updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) targeting a 55% reduction by 2030 and 66.25-72.5% by 2035. The ‘Fit for 55’ package and the ongoing development of regulations like CountEmissions EU are critical steps towards EU Net Zero Transport. However, the success of these policies hinges on accelerating the transition to zero-emission technologies in road transport, which requires a concerted effort from policymakers, industry, and infrastructure providers. The news today indicates a complex but determined push towards a cleaner future for European transport, acknowledging that the road to net zero is paved with both significant challenges and opportunities for innovation and collaboration in achieving EU Net Zero Transport.