On Wednesday, 21 May 2025, Messe Berlin was once again a centre for innovation and sustainability. As part of the Greentech Festival, a high-profile panel discussion on the decarbonisation of truck transport took place - moderated by our Business Development Manager Anastasia Segovia Astorga.
The session entitled ‘Decarbonisation of truck traffic: when will we be there?’ examined the pressing question of how the transport sector in Germany can make its contribution to achieving climate targets. Together with experts Moritz Tölke from Sovereign Speed and Simon C. Brück from DSLV Bundesverband Spedition und Logistik, Anastasia discussed what the path to an emission-free future for lorry transport could look like.
The urgent challenge
The initial situation is alarming: in 2024, the transport sector in Germany emitted a whopping 143 million tonnes of CO2, falling well short of the climate targets. Lorry traffic in particular plays a central role here, as it is responsible for a significant proportion of emissions. The German government's goal of reducing emissions by 65% by 2030 compared to 1990 and achieving climate neutrality by 2045 seems almost impossible to achieve without a comprehensive decarbonisation of truck traffic.
The challenges facing the industry
While the need for transformation is widely recognised, the industry faces numerous hurdles that are slowing down progress.
- Insufficient public charging network: There is a lack of a comprehensive network for electric lorries, which makes the switch to electric models unattractive for many companies. One possible solution would be a semi-public charging network where several partners could use the depot infrastructure, which would significantly increase resource efficiency.
- Lack of grid connection capacity: The infrastructure for the necessary power supply is often not sufficiently dimensioned to cover the growing demand for charging points. Even if grid expansion remains important, the efficient use of the grid should also be given much more consideration here: a charging depot with a PV system and battery storage behind the meter can reduce the need for grid expansion and at the same time ensure that the refuelled electricity is green and CO2 emissions are reduced along the entire value chain.
- Demand-oriented charging infrastructure in the depot: Many e-truck driving profiles can be realised with low charging capacities (under 400 kW). Only a small proportion require charging capacities of over 1,000 kW for a smooth dispatching process. By analysing the fleet, the user can therefore save a lot of costs in network expansion and charging equipment.
- High acquisition costs: Electric lorries are still significantly more expensive than their fossil fuel counterparts in terms of acquisition costs, which initially presents many logistics companies with financial challenges. Over its service life, an electric truck is proven to be competitive, primarily due to lower fuel costs and toll concessions in depot transport.
Cooperation between the stakeholders
In their contributions, the panellists discussed possible solutions and innovations that could help to overcome these hurdles. It was emphasised that close cooperation between politics, industry and research is necessary in order to improve the market conditions for zero-emission trucks. Last but not least, the importance of communication was also emphasised: transport transition and economic efficiency need not be a contradiction in terms, as electric trucks are already often commercially viable and available for many applications.
The partnership approach was also particularly emphasised: If logistics, network operators and politicians pull together, the transport transition will succeed despite the challenges.
The solutions of the future
The discussion at the Greentech Festival showed that there is no ‘simple solution’, but that a variety of measures are necessary to drive forward the decarbonisation of truck traffic:
The panellists expressly wanted more planning certainty from politicians. ‘The transformation of HGV transport is not a sprint, but a marathon. But the course must be set now to ensure a sustainable future for logistics,’ summarised Anastasia at the end of the panel. The discussion once again highlighted how important the rapid decarbonisation of truck transport is for achieving the climate targets. Although Germany is well positioned, it has not yet taken on the leading role in Europe. With the right framework conditions, however, it could well move up to the top.
However, it needs strong cooperation and a holistic strategy that involves all stakeholders in the process - from politics to industry and research.
