NextETRUCK, a new EU-funded project, runs from 1 July, focusing on the decarbonisation of vehicle fleets by demonstrating next-generation e-mobility concepts

The transport industry is strongly dependent on fossil fuels, accounting for 37% of CO2 emissions. Moreover, the commercial freight sector is expected to increase in the years to come. To face global climate issues, the European Union aims to become a zero-emission economy by 2050. In this process, research organisations, business strategists, technology companies, and manufacturers need to gather forces.

NextETRUCK aims at playing a pioneering role in this process. The project contributes to zero-emission vehicles and ecosystems that are holistic, innovative, affordable, competitive, and synergetic. NextETRUCK stands for efficient and affordable zero-emission logistics through Nextgeneration Electric TRUCKs. It is co-funded under the European Commission’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.

The project builds concepts tailored for regional medium freight haulage with at least a 10% increase in energy efficiency compared to existing highest-end benchmark electric vehicles. In addition, it prepares concept and infrastructure demonstrators for fast charging. Finally, NextETRUCK offers new business models to increase end-user acceptance and foster the market uptake of the project solutions.

Running between 1 July 2022 and 31 December 2025, NextETRUCK deploys three real-case demonstrations in Istanbul, Barcelona, and Utrecht.

The consortium represents 8 countries: The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Greece, Austria, Turkey, United Kingdom. The project coordinator is TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research).

The NextETRUCK consortium includes:
• Vehicle Manufacturers: Ford, IRIZAR, Tevva
• Component Manufacturers: AVL, PANION, JEMA
• ITS and connected IoT services: TOMTOM, DATIK, AVL
• Universities, Research Technology Organisations, and Consultancies: VUB, TNO, AIT, CERTH, Tecnalia, Cidetec, CENEX
• Associations: POLIS, ERTICO