Decarbonising European Heavy-duty Transport: A Stakeholder Analysis of Technology Readiness and Future R&I Priorities for Zero-emission Vehicles and Infrastructure

This report identifies the critical research and innovation (R&I) priorities for decarbonising Europe's heavy-duty vehicles, based on direct feedback from industry stakeholders. The findings reveal a consensus: battery electric technology is the primary pathway forward, with significant stakeholder support for R&I focused on its improvement. While battery electric technology is perceived as more mature, hydrogen is considered a complementary solution for the most demanding long-haul routes. Large-scale demonstrations are suggested for de-risking operations and evaluating integration with the transport and energy system. The analysis confirms that achieving TCO parity or better compared to diesel is the most important factor for market uptake. This study provides direct, evidence-based guidance for EU transport R&I policy, helping to chart the road ahead and orient R&I call programming to meet the ambitious CO₂ emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles.