This is one of the main goals of the Shift2Zero project, which focuses on the use of electric vehicles in urban areas and the transformation of logistics models to support their deployment. The project, co-funded by the European Commission, has a budget of €12 million and will run until 2028. Among the 30 partners from 10 countries, Italian partners will play a key role, particularly focusing on the urban area of Bologna. Gruber Logistics, ITL – Institute for Transport and Logistics, IVECO, FIT Consulting, Alkè Electric Vehicles, Brembo, and Cold Car will work together with the Municipality of Bologna, also a project partner, to test a new model of urban logistics.
The project was recently presented by Andrea Condotta, Director of Innovation, Sustainability, and Public Affairs at Gruber Logistics and Vice President of ALICE, at the annual POLIS leadership event held at the Capitoline Hill in Rome, which brought together representatives from European cities.
Marcello Corazzola, Managing Director of Gruber Logistics, emphasized: “Cities around the world are facing an increasingly urgent challenge: reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality to ensure the health and well-being of citizens. However, the need to decarbonize urban environments often conflicts with the necessity of maintaining the continuity of commerce and essential services. Freight transport is a fundamental activity for the city’s economy, as it supplies shops, restaurants, and businesses with essential goods and services. To move beyond conservative approaches while protecting businesses, it is necessary to collaborate and reconcile economic and environmental sustainability. We are therefore pleased with this new collaboration involving both the public and private sectors.”
To facilitate this dialogue, Gruber Logistics has organized a workshop dedicated to the project, which will take place on June 2nd at the Munich Trade Fair.
Marco Chiffi, Director of the Bologna branch of Gruber Logistics, explained that “Gruber Logistics has long been involved in goods distribution in the Bologna area and that the project aims to test electric vehicle prototypes and a new logistics model in urban areas, with tests to be replicated in various European cities.”
In addition to the Italian partners, the Shift2Zero project includes major industrial and logistics players such as DHL Express, DPD, Diakinisis, and Michelin. The project also benefits from the collaboration of numerous technical partners and public entities, including Eurecat, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), TØI – Institute of Transport Economics, Bax Innovation, ALICE, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Applus IDIADA, Łukasiewicz Automotive Industry Institute, the Municipality of Wroclaw, the City of Thessaloniki, the City of Bergen, Brussels Mobility, and Paxster. This diversity of partners ensures a wide range of expertise and experience, which is essential for the success of the Shift2Zero project.
