Monday, February 17th, 2025
The lack of charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, as well as the need to adapt logistics models to create viable business cases, are major challenges for the adoption of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs). These challenges were highlighted at the Road Transport Research Results (RTR) Conference held this week in Brussels.
ZEFES project to accelerate adoption of BEVs and FCEVs
Forty partners from across Europe, representing the entire heavy-duty value chain, are working together within the ZEFES project to remove barriers and conduct real-world demonstrations covering over 1 million kilometres along European long-distance freight corridors. One of the key challenges for these demonstrations is the availability of suitable charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, which contrasts with the objectives and obligations set out in the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).
🔗 More about ZEFES: ZEFES Project Website
Expanding infrastructure, developing sound business cases, and adapting operational logistics models are crucial to ensure these solutions move from pilot projects to large-scale implementation.
AFIF’s role in expanding infrastructure
The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) is a key funding programme supporting pioneering investors in alternative fuels infrastructure. With €422 million allocated, AFIF funds the deployment of:
These investments are a first step towards ensuring BEVs and FCEVs have the necessary infrastructure to operate efficiently across the Trans-European Transport (TEN-T) network.
The next round of AFIF funding closes on 11 June 2025, providing further opportunities for investors and stakeholders to accelerate Europe’s clean mobility future.
🔗 AFIF-funded projects overview (PDF): AFIF.pdf
Key AFIF-funded projects supporting ZEFES objectives
AFIF is funding several large-scale projects that directly contribute to the ZEFES mission by expanding infrastructure for zero-emission freight transport. Key initiatives include:
These projects directly address the infrastructure challenges faced by ZEFES demonstrations, creating the foundation for large-scale deployment of zero-emission heavy-duty freight transport.
We would like to congratulate the two ALICE members, Air Products and Colruyt Group, who received funding via CEF for their commitment to leading and pioneering this transition. Well done to both for their contributions in advancing zero-emission freight transport through infrastructure development.
Beyond Technology Readiness Levels: from demonstration to impact
Within ZEFES, we are working to bring BEVs and FCEVs, along with their related infrastructure, to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7-8. However, even reaching TRL 9 does not automatically mean widespread adoption. Even when a system is operational, widespread market adoption depends on industrialization of the technology, market readiness and supporting regulatory framework. Sound business and operational models and infrastructure availability are additional key aspects. The need to build capability for companies and workers to operate the new technologies seamlessly cannot be neglected either.
ALICE’s Beyond TRL position paper highlights the need for R&I projects and funding programmes to consider these aspects for real-world impact and calls for adaptations in funding mechanisms to support commercialisation.
🔗 Read the Beyond TRL position paper: ALICE – Beyond TRL
ZEFES is bridging the gap between research and deployment by linking R&I projects with AFIF and CEF funding to facilitate commercial-scale roll-out. Infrastructure gaps must be addressed to accelerate zero-emission freight transport, but investment in electric trucks is also critical to creating viable business models. We encourage EU Member States to include vehicle acquisition support as part of their ETS II taxation plans.
At the RTR Conference, Pablo Perez-IIlana (CINEA) highlighted ZEFES as a best practice, reinforcing its role in shaping the future of zero-emission heavy-duty transport. This recognition underscores the importance of impact-driven demonstration projects in creating scalable, sustainable logistics solutions.
ALICE’s role in driving innovation and collaboration
ALICE is actively engaged and is one of the platforms supporting the 2ZERO partnership, which was established in 2021 to accelerate road transport decarbonisation. As a public-private collaboration with a budget of €600 million, the partnership supports R&I efforts to make electric mobility and logistics a reality.
Together with partners from the road and energy sectors, ALICE contributes to the development of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, defining R&I priorities that translate into competitive funding calls. These calls support projects such as ZEFES, as well as the recently launched FLEXMCS and MACBETH projects, which focus on Multipoint Megawatt Charging Hubs.
ALICE’s leading experts and companies engage in these projects to remain at the forefront of innovation and freight transport decarbonisation. ALICE also monitors and supports these projects through the AEVETO cluster, identifying barriers, gaps, and opportunities and sharing insights with members and stakeholders to accelerate decarbonisation.
By fostering collaboration between research institutions, industry stakeholders, logistics operators, and policymakers, ALICE plays a key role in advancing sustainable freight transport.
Join ALICE and be part of the movement towards zero-emission logistics.
Meet us at Transport & Logistics Munich
Visit ALICE at Transport & Logistics Munich from 2-5 June at Booth 400, Hall A-3.
We look forward to engaging with stakeholders and continuing the transition towards sustainable freight transport.
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ZEFES is funded by the European Union under grant agreement number 101095856. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. |