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Road transport associations from France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the Nordic Countries, are calling on the EU to strengthen the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and accelerate electricity grid upgrades to support the transition to zero-emission freight transport. In a joint statement, the organisations warn that insufficient depot charging capacity, limited public charging infrastructure, the lack of Megawatt Charging System (MCS) chargers, and high energy prices contribute to hinder the uptake of electric heavy-duty vehicles.

Ahead of the planned AFIR revision in late 2026, the associations urge policymakers to prioritise depot charging infrastructure, strengthen charging deployment targets for heavy-duty vehicles, expand grid capacity through the EU Grids Package, and reinforce the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF). The organisers also call for transparent charging prices and harmonised, user-friendly payment systems across the EU.

CLECAT shares concerns regarding the insufficient infrastructure available to support the electrification of road freight transport, including the inadequate density of charging points and the slow deployment of MSC chargers, both of which risk constraining the large-scale electrification of the European road freight sector. CLECAT has in response to the recent call for evidence from the European Commission called for strengthened electricity grid capacity and for a renewed AFIF that not only supports publicly accessible charging infrastructure but also facilitates investments in semi-public and private depot charging solutions, which will be essential to enable the transition to zero-emission road freight transport.