The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has joined Transport & Environment in calling for renewed political leadership to accelerate the transition to zero-emission trucks, buses and coaches across Europe.
In a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the two organisations have called for the establishment of a high-level strategic dialogue on heavy-duty vehicle decarbonisation.
The proposed dialogue would bring together transport operators, commercial vehicle manufacturers, charging and energy providers, infrastructure companies, policymakers and civil society.
According to the IRU, greater cooperation is needed to address the practical and economic barriers preventing the widespread adoption of zero-emission commercial vehicles.
These include the high purchase cost of vehicles, limited access to affordable finance, insufficient charging and hydrogen-refuelling infrastructure, grid-capacity constraints and uncertainty surrounding future energy prices.
IRU EU Advocacy Director Raluca Marian said the transition of heavy-duty road transport required renewed political momentum at the highest level.
While the EU has established a clear direction for the decarbonisation of trucks, buses and coaches, the IRU believes that European and national policies must work together if the targets are to be delivered successfully.
The organisation also stressed that transport operators—the businesses expected to purchase and operate these vehicles—must be placed at the centre of future decisions.
The intervention comes ahead of planned reviews of two particularly important pieces of European legislation: the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation and the EU’s CO₂ emission standards for new heavy-duty vehicles.
The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation sets requirements for the development of electric charging and hydrogen-refuelling infrastructure along Europe’s principal transport routes. The heavy-duty vehicle CO₂ standards, meanwhile, establish emission-reduction targets for new trucks, buses and coaches.
Transport & Environment maintains that the recent volatility in diesel prices has strengthened the case for reducing Europe’s dependence on imported oil and accelerating the introduction of battery-electric trucks powered by domestically generated electricity.
However, the IRU has consistently argued that the transition must remain commercially and operationally realistic for transport companies.
That position will resonate with Irish hauliers, many of whom operate on tight margins and require vehicles capable of completing demanding domestic and international schedules.
Ireland also faces particular challenges involving charging availability, electricity-grid connections and the suitability of existing infrastructure for high-powered truck charging. The cost of purchasing zero-emission vehicles remains another major obstacle, particularly for small and medium-sized operators.
In a related development, global energy company Air Liquide has joined the IRU to support the decarbonisation of commercial road transport through hydrogen technology.
Air Liquide has expertise across the hydrogen value chain, encompassing production, distribution, refuelling infrastructure and end-user applications. The company will contribute to the IRU’s Green Compact initiative and work with transport operators and logistics businesses on the practical deployment of hydrogen solutions.
Air Liquide believes hydrogen can complement battery electrification, particularly in heavy-duty and long-distance transport. Its involvement underlines the IRU’s support for a technology-neutral transition that recognises the different operational requirements of road transport fleets.
The latest IRU developments reinforce the scale of the challenge confronting European road transport. Ambitious emission targets have been set, but operators will require affordable vehicles, competitive energy, adequate infrastructure and appropriate financial assistance if those targets are to be achieved.
The proposed strategic dialogue would give transport operators an important opportunity to ensure that their commercial and operational concerns are reflected in the next phase of EU policy.
