Electric road freight: change underway, levers to activate
Under the combined impact of climate regulations, European targets, and pressure from contracting authorities, the electrification of road freight transport is progressing. But on the ground, between political injunctions and operational realities, the transition is still progressing in fits and starts.
An incentive framework… but still difficult to anticipate
ZFE, CO₂ standards, renewal quotas: the regulatory framework clearly pushes towards reducing emissions. But this push is often imposed on carriers due to a lack of clear trajectories.
By 2030, emissions from heavy goods vehicles in Europe will have to drop by 45%. However, with no visibility into charging infrastructure or upcoming local regulations, many players are moving forward tentatively.
The offer is expanding, but access conditions remain demanding
The range of electric heavy-duty vehicles is expanding: regional tractors, urban trucks, long-distance models (up to 500 km of range). But acquisition costs (€250,000 to €400,000) are still holding SMEs back.
The calculation of the total cost of ownership (TCO) remains very sensitive to the availability of public aid, the number of kilometers traveled and the organization of tours.
Charging infrastructure, a major sticking point
One of the bottlenecks remains the lack of suitable charging stations. Few logistics sites are currently compatible with high power, and Enedis connections sometimes take more than a year. Without reliable fast charging and regional planning, the model remains fragile, even on short loops.
First field feedback: levers and limits
Some pioneers are showing convincing results: in dense urban areas, with a good energy mix and optimized organization, they are seeing up to 40% savings on fuel and a significant improvement in their brand image.
But these successes remain isolated. What the sector is now expecting is no longer an isolated example, but rather a move to scale, with reproducible and structured solutions.
Euromove, a structuring lever for the transition
The transition to electric road freight is no longer a technological gamble: it is an equation of engineering, financing and coordination.
Euromove 2026 trade fair establishes itself as a strategic space to bring together public, private and industrial players.
By exhibiting at Euromove, operators have the opportunity to interact with pilot territories, to promote their feedback and to identify real levers for duplication.
