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Keep zero-emission trucks toll-free, leading companies urge EU governments

April 22, 2026 3 min read

Brussels, 22 April 2026. A coalition of major European businesses and civil society organisations is calling on Ministers across Europe to swiftly implement toll exemptions for zero-emission trucks (ZETs). Businesses including ALDI South Group, DHL, DFDS, Geopost, Nestle, Volvo, and TRATON say such exemptions are one of the most practical steps governments can take to accelerate clean freight.

Any government that has not yet fully implemented the Eurovignette Directive is being urged to: 

  • Swiftly implement toll exemptions for zero-emission trucks, and;
  • Direct revenues from toll reform towards a socially fair transition towards zero-emission transport.

In countries where tolls are in place, the coalition recommends the swift introduction of a CO2-based toll system, with significantly reduced rates for zero-emission trucks. 

The open letter was sent to Transport Ministers across EU Member States today [22 April]. It is coordinated by Climate Group EV100, CALSTART / Drive to Zero, the European Clean Trucking Alliance, T&E, and Smart Freight Centre. 

Trucks and buses are responsible for around a quarter of Europe's road transport emissions, despite making up just 2% of vehicles on the road. 

Zero-emission trucks are commercially viable, including for long-haul routes, with dozens of models in mass production. But high total cost of ownership (TCO) remains the key barrier to widespread adoption. Toll exemptions address this directly.

Lidija Peters, Decarbonisation Projects Lead and Business Relationship Manager at DFDS and ECTA Spokesperson, said:

“Scaling zero‑emission trucks requires every stakeholder to take their share of the effort: ECTA members are aiming for TCO parity through smart use‑case selection and efficient operations. Now the EU must push its Member States to implement frameworks like the Eurovignette to make TCO parity for ZETs a reality beyond selected use cases.”

Dominic Phinn, Head of Transport at Climate Group, said: 

"The business case for zero-emission trucks is strong, but policy ambiguity is holding back investment at exactly the moment we need it to accelerate. Toll exemptions are a proven, practical lever that Member States can pull right now. This letter shows that companies are ready to move — and they are asking governments to match that ambition."

Jennie Cato, Chief Public Affairs Officer at TRATON, said:

"When properly implemented, the Eurovignette Directive has the potential to be an important driver of electrification of heavy-duty road transport. The extension of the possibility for Member States to exempt zero-emission vehicles from road tolls to 30 June 2031 is a welcome development, which can further strengthen this potential. We now call upon Member States to make use of this opportunity, and to implement CO2-based differentiation of charges fully and ambitiously – benefitting the climate, air quality, and Europe’s energy independence and global competitiveness.”  

Dominique Mamcarz, Sustainability Director at Geopost, said:

“The Eurovignette legislation adopted at EU level and last revised in 2022 provides an important framework to better align road charges with environmental performance. Its effective and consistent implementation across Member States would help improve the business case for electric trucks and give companies greater certainty when investing in zero‑emission fleets. Well‑designed road tolling can play a constructive role in supporting Europe’s climate objectives while maintaining fair competition in the freight sector.”

Germany's toll exemption for zero-emission trucks has proven an actionable model for accelerating transport decarbonisation. The policy, extended until mid-2031, is lowering operating costs, boosting investor confidence, and accelerating the transition to zero-emission heavy-duty fleets in a key European market.

ENDS

Notes to editors

  • The open letter was sent on 22 April 2026 to Transport Ministers in the following EU Member States: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
  • Signatories include companies, industry groups, and NGOs committed to accelerating zero-emission freight.
  • The Eurovignette Directive provides the legal framework for distance-based road charging and enables differentiated tolling based on CO₂ emissions.
  • A International Council on Clean Transportation study analyzing how road tolls and CO₂-based charges affect the total lifetime cost of operating different types of trucks in Europe, comparing diesel and low-emission alternative: https://theicct.org/road-tolls-and-co2-charges-impact-on-the-total-cost-of-ownership-of-trucks-in-europe-apr26/ 

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