Trucks
Electric trucks are an effective solution for reducing CO₂ emissions, says sustainable logistics expert Maarten Alta. Here, he discusses the outlook for electric trucks.
As the transport and logistics industries face mounting pressure to cut carbon emissions, electric trucks are emerging as one of the most effective alternatives to diesel.
Maarten Alta, a sustainable logistics lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam, believes battery-electric trucks offer clear advantages both economically and environmentally.
“If we want to reduce CO₂ now, electric trucks are the most effective solution,” he says. “And with the right energy mix and policy support, they can be a win-win for both businesses and the planet.”
Maarten, who has worked in logistics education for over ten years, following eight years spent working in the logistics industry, credits battery-electric technology as the most efficient propulsion system for trucks right now.
“If you compare it to diesel, diesel is only about 20-40% efficient, while electric propulsion is around 90% efficient,” he says. “That means 90% of the battery’s energy goes to the wheels.”
Renewable energy
This level of efficiency translates directly into lower energy consumption and emissions – especially when the electricity is sourced from renewables. “A big misconception is that it’s not sustainable,” says Maarten. “But if you use renewable energy like wind or solar, driving a truck with zero tailpipe emissions is highly sustainable. The key is using renewables – both for charging and even manufacturing the trucks. That’s when the system is truly sustainable.”
Maarten and his colleagues have studied electric truck viability in one of the world’s most densely trafficked logistics markets, the Netherlands. “We already see that in the lighter segments, electric trucks are competitive with diesel,” he adds. “What we expect is that this competitiveness will increase further within the medium-duty and, eventually, heavy-duty segments as well.”
Maarten believes these high-density transport corridors, such as Rotterdam to the Ruhr region, or the Scandinavian route going south, are a great testing ground to prove the feasibility of electric trucks in terms of range, charging infrastructure and CO₂ reduction potential.
“There are a lot of routes which are very busy – mostly the route from the harbors to the industrial hubs – doing 10,000 or maybe 15,000 trucks a day,” adds Maarten. “It would be interesting to look at these roads and see if electric transportation is viable and if it’s possible to actually replace diesel with electric on some of these typical transport routes.”
Start small, buy one or two trucks, train your planners, update your route planning software and talk to your customers
Despite their promise, electric trucks still face barriers. “The initial cost is a major barrier,” says Maarten. “In a competitive industry, you need cost certainty. The more we can reduce uncertainty around future energy prices, legislation, and tariffs, the more likely adoption becomes.”
But change is coming. New carbon pricing mechanisms like the EU’s second Emissions Trading System (ETS2), combined with increasing fossil fuel levies, are likely to shift the cost balance. “The upcoming tariffs and legislation will make diesel more expensive,” he says. “But electric trucks will benefit from these changes.”
There are also subsidies and regional tariffs that benefit electric trucks. “While it varies by country, some offer local subsidies on top of national ones,” adds Maarten.
The future looks electric
One study referenced by Maarten predicts a major turning point around 2030. “In the Netherlands, adoption is just a few percent today,” he says. “But forecasts suggest that electric trucks will make up 15% of the fleet by 2030. From there, momentum will build quickly.”
Looking further afield, he believes that China is a benchmark. “China already has a 10% adoption rate for electric trucks,” he adds. For Europe to fully benefit from electrification, Maarten believes that logistics operators must start preparing now through pilot programs, training and infrastructure investment. “Start small, buy one or two trucks, train your planners, update your route planning software and talk to your customers. It’s about building experience.”
Find out more about Volvo’s electric truck range here.
Name: Maarten Alta
Job: Lecturer - sustainable logistics
Company: University of Applied Sciences
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
