The European Union aims to become a carbon-neutral continent by 2050, and to that end, it has promoted profound legislative changes to help decarbonise all sectors of activity, allocating funding to support their implementation. One of the key sectors to be decarbonised is road freight transport, which is currently responsible for more than half of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions. Alongside meeting climate obligations, the EU also aims to improve air quality and public health, reduce energy dependence, and consolidate its industrial leadership in truck manufacturing.

The most effective way to decarbonise road freight transport is through the use of electric vehicles powered by batteries or hydrogen fuel cells, or low-emission fuels such as biofuels or synthetic fuels.

However, the transport sector—like other sectors responsible for diffuse emissions—faces additional difficulties, and the barriers to overcome are more significant than in other areas. Among the most pressing issues are high costs, the lack of electric charging infrastructure or new fuel supply points, and the need to integrate charging times into daily logistics operations.

On 19 March, during the conference “Sustainability in Road Transport” jointly organised by the Port of Barcelona, the Catalonia Logistics Cluster, and the Efficient Energy Cluster of Catalonia, these challenges were analysed in depth. The conference addressed the factors hindering and delaying the development of the electric or near-zero emission truck market.

Speakers discussed the premium cost of electric trucks and agreed that the involvement of the cargo owner is essential to ensure sustainable transport. They emphasised that initial efforts should focus on improving transport efficiency—through route design and the use of duo-trailers, for example—and on introducing biofuels such as HVO or FAME.

Regarding the rapid and widespread deployment of electric charging and new fuel supply infrastructure, participants noted the need to rethink the electrical grid to accommodate this new demand for electrification in sectors undergoing decarbonisation, as well as the growing demand from data centres and emerging artificial intelligence.

In terms of change management, industry representatives highlighted during the event that this is an “invisible barrier” but a highly important one, requiring the integration of new fuels into logistics and transport operations.

Overall, ports play a key role in the challenge of decarbonising road freight transport, as they are critical links in the logistics chain—often serving as the origin or destination of goods, where cargo is transferred or changes mode of transport. At the same time, road transport is essential for the operation of ports, allowing goods to enter or leave their area of influence, or hinterland. The Port of Barcelona estimates that around 4,000 heavy-duty vehicles regularly operate there, transporting containers, general cargo, and both liquid and solid products.

The gradual electrification of these vehicles using battery or hydrogen fuel cell technology will ultimately result in an energy demand of approximately 40 MWp of electricity for charging points, and around 40 tonnes of hydrogen per day. In the first case, most of the charging points will be located within the transport companies based in the Port or its surrounding area, or in designated truck parking areas, and will typically offer slow charging. There will also be a need for opportunity charging points located in logistics centres and along major routes, which will require ultra-fast charging capabilities with power outputs between 0.4 and 1.5 MW.

As for the hydrogen supply to vehicles that regularly operate in the Port, the delivery of the 40 daily tonnes will take place at fuelling stations (hydrogen refuelling points) located in logistics centres and along main routes, including at least one facility within the port area itself.

The sustainability of freight transport is a real challenge, and it is essential that all actors in the value chain contribute their efforts—from the cargo owner to the haulier, from logistics operators to manufacturers of new vehicles, and from electric charging and fuel supply operators to public administrations.

Jordi Vila, Head of Environment at the Port of Barcelona