Bologna, 23 July 2026 – Gruber Logistics welcomed representatives of the Emilia-Romagna Region, the Municipality of Bologna and key logistics stakeholders to its Bologna Interporto site to mark the launch of the six-month real-world demonstration of the EMPOWER battery-electric truck prototype. Funded through the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, EMPOWER is one of Europe’s most ambitious initiatives for the decarbonisation of heavy-duty road transport.
During the visit, the delegation observed the prototype in operation, experienced a test drive and discussed the technological innovations behind the vehicle together with its deployment in Emilia-Romagna. The event connected technological innovation with regional mobility and sustainability objectives, bringing public institutions closer to the practical realities of the transition towards zero-emission freight transport.
The pilot, which began in July 2026, will run until the end of December, enabling project partners to validate both the vehicle and the supporting charging ecosystem under real operating conditions.
The event was attended by Irene Priolo, Regional Minister for Environment, Territorial Planning, Mobility and Transport, and Infrastructure of Emilia-Romagna; Michele Campaniello, Councillor for New Mobility and Infrastructure, Local Public Transport, Città 30 and Road Safety of the Municipality of Bologna; Andrea Babbi, President of the Institute for Transport and Logistics Foundation (ITL); Andrea Bardi, General Manager of ITL; Stefano Caliandro, President of Interporto Bologna; and Giuseppe Dall’Asta, Managing Director of Interporto Bologna.
Testing Europe’s Future Freight Technologies in Emilia-Romagna
Coordinated by the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), the EMPOWER project brings together leading industrial, logistics and research partners, including IVECO, Gruber Logistics and several European organisations, to develop and validate modular, highly efficient battery-electric and hydrogen powertrain solutions for long-haul freight transport.
Within the project, Gruber Logistics is conducting real-world testing of the first battery-electric prototype in Emilia-Romagna. Beyond evaluating vehicle performance, the demonstration will assess the wider ecosystem required for successful deployment, including charging infrastructure, operational planning and regulatory considerations.
Developed within the EMPOWER project, the prototype combines IVECO’s electric truck platform with the operational expertise of Gruber Logistics. The vehicle has been specifically engineered for swap body transport, featuring a dedicated chassis layout that protects the batteries and critical electric components while providing the flexibility required for modern freight operations.
A distinctive aspect of the Bologna demonstration is the operating environment in which the vehicle will be tested. Rather than operating on a conventional full-truckload (FTL) route between fixed locations,one of today’s most common deployment models for battery-electric heavy-duty vehicles, the prototype will be integrated into Gruber Logistics’ Less-than-Truckload (LTL) network, where shipments from multiple customers are consolidated at a cross-docking terminal before being sorted and redistributed to their final destinations. The demonstration will provide valuable operational evidence on how zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles can be successfully integrated into complex logistics operations while maintaining service quality and operational efficiency.
Marco Chiffi, Branch Manager of Gruber Logistics Bologna, commented:
“The regional and urban context of Bologna represents one of the most challenging environments for reducing transport emissions. This pilot will allow us to evaluate the operational performance of these new technologies and understand how they can support our long-term decarbonisation strategy. We are proud to test this prototype in Bologna and contribute to shaping the future of sustainable freight transport.”
The prototype offers a driving range of up to 300 km with a five-battery configuration and up to 400 km with seven batteries and is capable of accepting high-power charging of up to 350 kW, enabling rapid charging where compatible infrastructure is available.
Supporting the vehicle is an equally important charging ecosystem. At its Bologna depot, Gruber Logistics has installed a 44 kW mobile charger to enable overnight charging between operating shifts, complementing the public charging infrastructure available within the Interporto Bologna logistics hub. Together, these charging solutions will allow project partners to evaluate how battery-electric heavy-duty vehicles can be reliably integrated into existing logistics operations and generate practical evidence for future large-scale deployment.
Anyone who would like to learn more about the EMPOWER project can find additional information here.
Bologna as a Living Laboratory for Sustainable Logistics
Beyond EMPOWER, the discussions highlighted Bologna’s growing role as a testing ground for sustainable freight transport through additional European research initiatives involving Gruber Logistics. Among these is the Horizon Europe project SHIFT2ZERO, which will test an innovative urban logistics model based on a transshipment hub in Bologna and newly developed electric refrigerated vehicles for last-mile distribution, further reinforcing the city’s role as a living laboratory for zero-emission logistics.
Collaboration Driving the Transition
The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss the remaining challenges for the large-scale deployment of zero-emission freight transport, including charging infrastructure, regulatory adaptation and the evolution of logistics models. Through its participation in European research and innovation projects, Gruber Logistics continues to work alongside institutions, industry partners and research organisations to transform innovation into practical solutions, reinforcing Bologna’s position as a strategic hub for the future of sustainable freight transport in Europe.
