Road Freight Zero: Pathways to faster adoption of zero-emission trucks

The report identifies a significant gap between current zero-emission (ZE) truck sales projections and the levels required to meet 1.5°C targets by 2030. While battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are the primary technologies, adoption is hindered by a lack of charging/refuelling infrastructure and financing gaps related to high capital expenditure and uncertain residual values. The authors propose three solution domains: stable policy frameworks to improve total cost of ownership (TCO), innovative leasing models like 'truck-as-a-service', and industry consortia to aggregate demand. Two priority pathways are highlighted: short-haul depot-based distribution around 11 regional hubs and long-haul freight along nine main European corridors.

• Current projections for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty truck (MDT/HDT) sales in Europe are insufficient for a 1.5°C pathway; while 37% of new sales could be ZE by 2030, an additional 120,000 trucks annually would be needed to meet the target.
• Accelerating the transition to a 1.5°C trajectory by 2030 requires substantial additional investment, including €25-30 billion for vehicles and €50-60 billion for infrastructure beyond current projections.
• The two primary barriers to ZE truck adoption are the lack of charging and refuelling infrastructure and gaps in vehicle and infrastructure financing for fleet owners.
• Infrastructure deployment faces a 'chicken or egg' dilemma where high capital costs discourage investment until vehicle utilization is guaranteed; for example, high-power charging points (750kW+) for long-haul breaks could cost between €200,000 and €350,000 each.
• Financing is complicated by uncertain residual values of ZE trucks, driven by risks including battery or fuel cell degradation, lack of a developed second-hand market in regions like Eastern Europe, Africa, or South America, and rapid technology development.
• To bridge the TCO gap, the report suggests policy levers such as purchase subsidies, carbon taxes, road toll exemptions, and grants covering up to 75% (or €200,000) of infrastructure costs.
• Innovative financing models, such as 'truck-as-a-service' and dynamic pay-per-mile leasing, can shift capital expenditure to operating expenditure and distribute risk across the value chain.
• The report identifies short-haul routes around 11 European regional hubs (including Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, and Milan) as the most economically viable near-term pathway for ZE adoption.
• Long-haul freight along nine main European corridors (such as the Scandinavian-Mediterranean and Rhine-Danube) represents the largest emissions abatement potential but requires higher stakeholder coordination.
• A multi-technology approach using both BEVs and FCEVs is recommended to de-risk the transition, as BEVs are more available now while FCEVs offer advantages for long-distance and fast refuelling.

APA

World Economic Forum (2021). Road Freight Zero: Pathways to faster adoption of zero-emission trucks. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_RFZ_Pathways_to_faster_adoption_of_zero_emission_trucks_2021.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Road Freight Zero: Pathways to faster adoption of zero-emission trucks. 2021. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_RFZ_Pathways_to_faster_adoption_of_zero_emission_trucks_2021.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Road Freight Zero: Pathways to faster adoption of zero-emission trucks |date=October 2021 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_RFZ_Pathways_to_faster_adoption_of_zero_emission_trucks_2021.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2021road, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Road Freight Zero: Pathways to faster adoption of zero-emission trucks}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2021}, month = oct, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_RFZ_Pathways_to_faster_adoption_of_zero_emission_trucks_2021.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }