Road Freight Zero: Towards a Holistic Regulatory Framework for Reducing Road Freight Emissions in Europe

The World Economic Forum's Road Freight Zero coalition argues that current deployment trajectories for zero-emission trucks (ZETs) are insufficient to meet Paris Agreement goals. While the European Commission has proposed increasing CO2 reduction targets for heavy-duty vehicles to -43% by 2030, -64% by 2035, and -90% by 2040, the document asserts that these targets require a comprehensive support system. Key recommendations include upfront purchase subsidies, the implementation of a five-year rolling plan for CO2 credits and debits, and the revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive to allow for increased axle weights and vehicle lengths to offset the payload loss caused by new powertrains. Additionally, the paper emphasizes the need for harmonized permitting procedures and the deployment of Megawatt Charging Systems (MCS) to support long-haul operations.

• The European Commission proposed a legislative revision on 14 February 2023 to increase CO2 reduction targets for heavy-duty vehicles to -43% by 2030, -64% by 2035, and -90% by 2040.
• To support the adoption of zero-emission trucks (ZETs), the document recommends eight policy enablers, including subsidizing early purchases, providing incentives for high gross combination weight (GCW) classes, and establishing an emissions trading system for road transport.
• Current vehicle weight and dimension regulations create payload disadvantages for zero-emission technologies; the paper suggests increasing axle weights by up to 1 tonne, weight allowances by at least 4 tonnes, and length by up to 1.5 m.
• The transition to zero-emission long-haul trucking is hindered by charging times and infrastructure costs, which can exceed 20% of the total cost of ownership for long-haul trucks.
• To improve infrastructure deployment, the document suggests harmonizing permit and building procedures across EU Member States and aligning construction permits with grid-connection timelines, which typically take one year.
• The Megawatt Charging System (MCS), designed for a maximum charging rate of 3.75 megawatts, is identified as a key technology to reduce charging times for battery-electric heavy-duty vehicles in long-haul operations.

APA

World Economic Forum (2023). Road Freight Zero: Towards a Holistic Regulatory Framework for Reducing Road Freight Emissions in Europe. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Road_Freight_Zero_Towards_a_Holistic_Regulatory_Framework_for_Reducing_Freight_Emissions_in_Europe_2023.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Road Freight Zero: Towards a Holistic Regulatory Framework for Reducing Road Freight Emissions in Europe. 2023. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Road_Freight_Zero_Towards_a_Holistic_Regulatory_Framework_for_Reducing_Freight_Emissions_in_Europe_2023.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Road Freight Zero: Towards a Holistic Regulatory Framework for Reducing Road Freight Emissions in Europe |date=March 2023 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Road_Freight_Zero_Towards_a_Holistic_Regulatory_Framework_for_Reducing_Freight_Emissions_in_Europe_2023.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2023road, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Road Freight Zero: Towards a Holistic Regulatory Framework for Reducing Road Freight Emissions in Europe}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Road_Freight_Zero_Towards_a_Holistic_Regulatory_Framework_for_Reducing_Freight_Emissions_in_Europe_2023.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }