EU heavy-duty vehicle transition needs renewed political momentum

Europe's road transport sector is under growing pressure. The energy and geopolitical crisis triggered by the wars in Iran and Ukraine has pushed diesel prices sharply higher and has reinforced concerns over Europe’s energy security. Climate change-driven extreme weather is increasingly affecting communities and livelihoods, disrupting transport operations and putting infrastructure under growing strain.

To meet this challenge, IRU and T&E - in a joint letter to President von der Leyen - are calling for renewed political leadership and a high-level dialogue bringing together transport operators, vehicle manufacturers, infrastructure and energy providers and civil society to tackle the practical and economic barriers holding back a rapid transition to zero emission trucks.

IRU EU Advocacy Director Raluca Marian said, “The transition of heavy-duty transport needs renewed political momentum at the highest level. The EU has set a clear direction, but delivering it will require EU and national efforts to go hand in hand. A strategic dialogue led by President von der Leyen would send an important signal that the transition of trucks, buses and coaches remains an EU priority. It would bring together the key actors to identify what is still holding back deployment and where action is most urgently needed. Operators are the ones investing in and running these vehicles every day. Their operational and economic realities need to be at the heart of the decisions shaping the next phase of the transition.”

T&E Executive Director William Todts said, "The diesel crisis is a wake up call for Europe. We must rapidly reduce our dependence on imported oil and the single best way to do that is by scaling up electric trucks run on clean, homegrown electricity. The EU is preparing action on charging and CO₂ standards. What we need to succeed is a transparent, inclusive process with all the key players around the table.”

The call comes ahead of reviews of two key EU laws: the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), which drives the rollout of charging and hydrogen infrastructure, and the Heavy-Duty Vehicle CO₂ Standards, which set CO₂ reduction targets for new heavy-duty vehicles.

IRU and T&E stress that progress will also depend on sufficient grid and charging capacity, competitive energy prices, financing and demand for zero-emission transport.