The future is electricity – the TSL industry responds to EU ideas

The transport, forwarding, and logistics sector accounts for approximately 20% of the European Union’s total greenhouse gas emissions. It’s no surprise that transforming commercial road transport has become a key priority of the European Green Deal. In practice, electromobility has proven to pose a significant challenge for the heavy-duty transport industry, which struggles with prohibitive electric vehicle prices, limited availability of powerful charging stations, and insufficient green energy production. Can transport companies meet the EU’s ambitions?

Fuel Congress 2025 – the voice of representatives of the TSL sector

The Fuel Congress 2025, organized by the Polish Organization of Petroleum Industry and Trade (POPiHN), took place in Warsaw on March 19–20, 2025. It brought together leaders from the European fuel and transport industries, politicians, and experts, who jointly attempted to develop an optimal transport decarbonization strategy. An appeal was made to EU authorities, demanding, among other things, a coherent transport and energy strategy tailored to the specific needs of specific markets, the implementation of smart and flexible decarbonization measures, and ensuring fuel security through infrastructure development. Representatives of the TSL industry viewed the current, uniform transformation model as a threat to competitiveness and energy security. They called for a more common-sense and flexible approach, consistent with the principle of technological neutrality.

New Clean Industrial Deal insufficient for the industry

The Clean Industrial Deal is a fundamental element of the EU’s climate strategy, designed to accelerate the decarbonization of industry and transport. The European Union is prioritizing electrification and hydrogen technologies as the preferred development paths for commercial road transport. However, representatives of the transport and logistics sector point to numerous barriers hindering this transformation, such as the high cost of purchasing zero-emission vehicles, the lack of megawatt-sized charging infrastructure, and the severely limited availability of renewable energy. Currently, 6.5 million trucks are on EU roads. If all of them were replaced with electric models now, green energy consumption would exceed the current production capacity of the entire EU. It’s also important to remember that renewable energy is used by many industries, not just transport. Furthermore, industry representatives have highlighted the varying market conditions in individual member states. Not all countries and companies are capable of implementing such rapid and expensive fleet electrification. 80% of transport and logistics companies are micro-enterprises with limited capital. Therefore, green investments, consistent with EU ambitions, remain within the reach of the largest companies.

Biofuel – yes at sea and in the air, no on the roads

The transport, forwarding, and logistics industry is demanding that biofuels, synthetic fuels, and hybrid solutions be included in the decarbonization plan. These are not only effective but also more accessible and cost-effective for many companies in the short and medium term. Industry representatives are vocally condemning the exclusion of biofuels from the decarbonization plan, even though they are successfully used in modern maritime and air transport due to their environmental friendliness, efficiency, and relatively low prices. Furthermore, older trucks can also use biofuels, which would allow many companies to avoid the enormous costs of fleet electrification. The exclusion of even advanced biofuels from the decarbonization policy stems primarily from the controversial method of calculating CO2 emissions – from the tailpipe. This measurement method fails to capture the actual environmental impact of biofuels and is imprecise. The marginalization of alternative fuels in EU policy means that users no longer perceive them as more environmentally friendly. Price also discourages them. It is therefore not surprising that many carriers stick with the “classic” diesel.

Investments of TSL companies in question

The lack of a specific transformation plan leaves the TSL industry unsure of what solutions to invest in to meet EU requirements. There are ideas, but no real support, certainty, predictability, stability, or partnerships. The European Union seems to believe that TSL companies will gladly bear all the costs of the transformation and will easily shoulder them. Meanwhile, carriers need tools to support them in making strategic decisions in the decarbonization process.

Electromobility is coming. There’s no doubt about it. However, this process will take years and require massive investments. The transport, forwarding, and logistics sector now needs a concrete plan, real support, and a secure legislative environment. Otherwise, companies won’t invest. The current priority should be carbon neutrality, not absolute electrification.