Getting zero-emission trucks on the road

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has organised an online event to examine in more detail just what is needed to get #ZeroEmissionTrucks on the road.

The good news is that #ZeroEmissionTrucks are starting to hit the market!

Indeed, all European manufacturers have either already started or are about to start series production of their new #ZeroEmissionTrucks; battery electric first and hydrogen-powered soon thereafter.

To bring these vehicles to the market in large numbers, enabling conditions must now urgently be put in place in transport and logistics. These include a dense network of charging and refuelling infrastructure suitable for heavy-duty vehicles and an effective carbon pricing system.

Speakers

Johan Rockström – Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

Johan Rockström is Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Professor at the Institute of Earth and Environmental Science at Potsdam University, and Professor in Water Systems and Global Sustainability at Stockholm University.

Mr Rockström gained international recognition with the development of the Planetary Boundaries framework, which has since become a standard of sustainability science. Mr Rockström is also the Chief Scientist of Conservation International, as well as chairing the advisory board for the EAT Initiative on Health, Food and Sustainability, the Earth League, Future Earth (co-chair), the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Earth Commission.

Martin Lundstedt – CEO of Volvo Group

Martin Lundstedt is the Chair of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) and CEO of Volvo Group. Mr Lundstedt has been a member of the Executive Board of Volvo Group since October 2015. In parallel, he also acts as Chairman of the Board of Permobil AB, member of the Board of Autoliv AB, and member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA). Previously Mr Lundstedt was President and CEO of Scania (2012-2015). He also was co-chairman of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport (2015-2016) and a member of the Board at Concentric AB.

Antonia Gawel – Head of Climate Change at the World Economic Forum

Antonia Gawel is Head of Climate Change at the World Economic Forum and serves as Deputy Head of the Centre for Nature and Climate. In this role she oversees the Forum’s wider climate strategy and key flagship initiatives and communities including the CEO Climate Leaders and First Movers Coalition (FMC). Prior to joining the Forum, she worked at the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Frans Timmermans – Executive Vice-President, European Commission

Frans Timmermans was elected European Commission Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal in December 2019. Before that he was responsible for the adoption of the Circular Economy Strategy as Vice President in charge of Better Regulation.

Timmermans was elected six times as a Member of the Dutch Labour Party from 1998 to 2007 and 2010 to 2012. He also served as Minister for Foreign affairs from 2012 to 2014 and Minister of European Affairs from 2007 to 2010.

Ismail Ertug – Member of the European Parliament, Transport Committee

Ismail Ertug was elected to become a Member of the European Parliament in 2009, and was re-elected in 2014 as well as in 2019. Since then, MEP Ertug has been a Member of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN). During his second term, he acted as Coordinator of the S&D Group in the TRAN Committee. In 2019, he was called to hold office as Vice-President of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.

Andreas Marschner – Vice-President of Transportation Services, Amazon

Andreas Marschner is Vice President of Amazon Transportation Services (ATS) in Europe.

Mr Marschner joined Amazon in 2017 and has built Amazon’s ‘middle mile’ operations across Europe, connecting Amazon’s fulfillment centres to all last mile carriers. Today, ATS uses all modes of transportation (road, rail, sea and air) and operates dedicated sortation nodes to provide for more efficient network flows.

Transportation is a major component of Amazon’s business operations and, as a co-founder of the Climate Pledge, is a key part of Amazon’s plan to be net-zero carbon by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

Prior to joining Amazon, M. Marschner spent 10 years with Deutsche Post DHL and more than five years as a consultant with McKinsey & Company and the International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group).

Sigrid de Vries – Director General of ACEA

Sigrid de Vries is the Director General of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), having taken up position in September 2022.
Ms de Vries has long-standing experience working for strategic EU industry sectors – from automobile manufacturers to automotive suppliers, to the construction equipment sector. Prior to her current appointment at ACEA, Sigrid de Vries was Secretary General of the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA).

Anna Gumbau – Freelance journalist (moderator)

Anna is a freelance journalist covering EU affairs and climate change in Brussels, and a moderator with the collective Moderating.EU. Before going freelance in September 2021, Anna was a staff reporter with Carbon Pulse and Interfax Global Energy, and her work has been published with renowned media, including Deutsche Welle, TRT World, EU Observer, and Agenda Pública in Spain.

All European manufacturers have either already started or are about to start series production of their new #ZeroEmissionTrucks. To bring these vehicles to the market, enabling conditions must now urgently be put in place in transport and logistics.