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A broad coalition of European businesses and organisations, including CLECAT, has in a joint letter called on Member States to make full use of the incentives available under the  to support the uptake of zero-emission trucks (ZETs). In the letter addressed to national ministers, the signatories urge governments to swiftly implement toll exemptions and CO₂-based differentiation of road charges, as foreseen in EU legislation. 

The letter highlights that heavy-duty vehicles, whilst representing only around 2% of the vehicle fleet, account for approximately a quarter of road transport emissions. Accelerating the transition to zero-emission trucks is therefore seen as essential both for achieving climate objectives and for maintaining Europe’s industrial leadership in clean transport technologies.

In this context, the recent extension allowing Member States to exempt zero-emission trucks from tolls and user charges until 30 June 2031 is identified as a key opportunity. According to the signatories, the combined implementation of toll exemptions and CO₂-based charging is critical to reduce operating costs and improve the total cost of ownership of zero-emission vehicles, thereby enabling their large-scale deployment.

The coalition points to existing national examples, such as Germany, where extended toll exemptions for zero-emission trucks have already contributed to supporting market uptake. At the same time, it stresses the importance of consistent and proactive implementation across all Member States, including in countries with concession-based tolling systems.

The letter also underlines that zero-emission trucks are increasingly viable across a range of use cases, with a growing number of models in mass production and long-haul capabilities reaching up to 600 kilometres. However, further improvements in cost competitiveness remain necessary to accelerate adoption across the sector.

Finally, the signatories emphasise that revenues generated through CO₂-based tolling could play a role in supporting the transition, including through reinvestment in infrastructure and other enabling measures. They call on Member States to act decisively, noting that full implementation of the Eurovignette Directive would send a clear market signal, unlock private investment, and support the transition towards a more sustainable road freight sector in Europe.