Europe’s road freight industry is entering a difficult phase of its transition away from diesel. Electric trucks are becoming more capable, operators are testing them on real routes, and companies are beginning to invest in charging infrastructure. Yet uncertainty over future regulation is creating a new obstacle.

A group of major European fleet operators and transport businesses is urging policymakers not to weaken existing CO₂ standards for heavy-duty vehicles. Their argument is that stable rules are necessary if companies are expected to commit large sums to new vehicles, depot chargers and long-term fleet planning.

Businesses Want Stable Rules

Current EU rules require manufacturers to reduce average CO₂ emissions from new heavy-duty vehicles substantially over the coming years.

The long-term targets call for reductions of 43% by 2030, 64% by 2035 and 90% by 2040 compared with the established baseline.

In 2026, manufacturers were already given temporary flexibility in how they can accumulate emissions credits before the 2030 deadline. The longer-term targets, however, remain in place.

Fleet operators now argue that further changes could undermine confidence. Companies making investment decisions today need to know which vehicles will be available and how quickly the market will shift.

Electric Trucks Are Becoming Practical

The debate is no longer simply about whether battery-electric trucks can work.

For regional distribution, depot-based operations and predictable routes, electric models are increasingly viable. Improvements in battery range and charging speed are expanding the number of journeys they can realistically handle.

Some operators also see an economic advantage. Diesel prices remain volatile, while electric fleets can provide greater predictability when companies have access to favorable charging contracts.

Marion Labatut of EDF has argued that companies are already investing in heavy-duty electrification and that stable emissions standards would give businesses greater confidence to continue expanding those investments.

The message is that regulation and commercial planning are closely connected.

Manufacturers See Bigger Obstacles

Truckmakers have raised a different concern.

Several major manufacturers say that demand for electric trucks is not growing quickly enough to meet the 2030 requirements. Battery-electric heavy trucks still represent only a small share of the European market.

Their main complaint is not a lack of available vehicles, but the infrastructure surrounding them.

High-power truck charging remains limited, particularly on major freight corridors. Grid connections can take years, while the cost of upgrading depots can be substantial.

Manufacturers have therefore called for more time, warning that they could face large financial penalties if market conditions remain too weak.

Charging Is The Real Bottleneck

Both sides largely agree on one issue: Europe needs more charging infrastructure.

Long-haul trucks require far more power than passenger cars, and large depots may need multiple high-capacity chargers operating simultaneously. That can involve major electricity-network upgrades.

Public charging is another challenge. Freight operators need reliable locations that can accommodate large vehicles without creating long delays.

Without this infrastructure, even companies willing to purchase electric trucks may struggle to deploy them efficiently.

Uncertainty Could Slow Investment

The disagreement is therefore less about whether freight transport should become cleaner and more about how quickly the change can happen.

Fleet operators fear that weakening emissions standards would reduce pressure on manufacturers to produce electric trucks at scale. Lower production volumes could keep prices high and delay improvements in model choice.

Truckmakers, meanwhile, argue that ambitious vehicle targets make little sense if charging networks and other supporting policies develop too slowly.

For Europe, the challenge is to keep both parts moving together.

Clear emissions standards can encourage investment, but only if charging infrastructure, electricity grids and financial incentives develop at the same pace. For companies planning fleets that may remain on the road for a decade or more, regulatory certainty may now be almost as important as the technology itself.