EU ZEFES Project: Gruber Logistics works towards a zero-CO2 emissions continent
How can action be taken to reduce emissions in an industry widely considered Hard-to-Abate, such as freight transport and logistics?
It is with this ambition that the European Commission, within the framework of the “Green Deal”, has been investing for years to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. An integral part of EU policy is investment in research and development for new technologies capable of ensuring an effective transition towards sustainable logistics.
In this context, research projects funded by the Horizon programme play a key role. Among these, the ZEFES project (Zero Emissions flexible vehicle platform with modular powertrains serving the long-haul Freight Eco System) stands out. With a budget of €40 million, 40 partners from 14 different countries are working to develop and put on the road battery-electric and fuel cell hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles designed for international long-haul transport.
As GRUBER Logistics, we are among the partners involved in the development and on-road testing of hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles, which will be tested along the main corridors of the European TEN-T network.
In the first months of 2024, we began planning transport and logistics operations that will see us testing the first vehicles along the Italian section of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor, reaching Austria and Germany via the Brenner Pass.
An initial data collection phase using conventional vehicles was launched in February of this year and will conclude before the summer, allowing us to establish a baseline on which to build future benchmarking analyses with next-generation zero-emission vehicles. Among the partners involved in analyzing the data provided by Gruber Logistics’ Scania vehicles along the A22 axis are the Fraunhofer Institute, RICARDO, and TNO. For data collection, the vehicles have been equipped with a device connected directly to the vehicle control unit, ensuring a higher sampling frequency compared to traditional Fleet Management systems. Installation and calibration were carried out in direct collaboration between Scania workshops and Gruber Logistics technicians.
The ZEFES project, launched in January 2023, will run until 2026 and will make it possible to evaluate the reliability and performance of electric heavy-duty vehicles as replacements for conventional trucks, verifying their effectiveness in real-world traffic conditions.
Expectations for a new zero-emission technology such as hydrogen are high from all perspectives. At Gruber Logistics, we believe that investing in sustainable logistics today means building a cleaner, more efficient future together with our customers. This commitment is part of a broader strategy that also includes our recent partnership with Delta Energy to promote alternative and low-emission fuels such as HVO and Bio-LNG.