Economic advisors from France and Germany have called for a joint approach to decarbonizing road freight transport, advocating a focus on battery-electric trucks (BET) while limiting public funding for alternative technologies such as hydrogen and catenary hybrid trucks.
In a joint statement, the French Conseil d’analyse économique (CAE) and the Franco-German Council of Economic Experts (FGCEE) urged both governments to align their strategies to strengthen domestic policies, improve infrastructure interoperability, and accelerate EU-wide regulatory harmonization. “Policies should focus on battery-electric trucks as these represent the most mature and market-ready technology for road freight transport,” the statement read. The experts argue that public funding should be directed toward accelerating the rollout of fast-charging networks along major transport corridors and at private depots.
The FGCEE is an independent body providing policy recommendations on economic issues of mutual interest to France and Germany. The statement was co-signed by Monika Schnitzer, chair of the German Council of Economic Experts, and Camille Landais, her French counterpart. However, energy economist Veronika Grimm, a member of Germany’s National Hydrogen Council, declined to sign the appeal. Grimm has previously opposed similar proposals, advocating for hydrogen-powered freight solutions.
While acknowledging that alternative low-emission technologies, including fuel cell and catenary hybrid trucks, are technically feasible, the economic experts argue that their market readiness remains uncertain. “Publicly funded infrastructure development for these alternatives makes little sense at present due to existing uncertainties,” the report states. Instead, they propose an “adaptive approach,” encouraging further research and testing of hydrogen-based solutions but without committing public resources to their infrastructure rollout.
This stance contrasts with the European Union’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), which mandates the parallel development of charging stations for battery-electric heavy-duty vehicles and hydrogen refueling stations by 2030. The experts recommend reassessing AFIR’s infrastructure requirements to allow flexibility if hydrogen fails to prove its viability.
The report also downplays the feasibility of shifting freight transport from road to rail, citing fragmentation and interoperability challenges within the European rail network. Instead, it emphasizes the need for public investment in fast-charging stations based on the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) standard to support the transition from diesel to electric trucks. The experts also call for enhanced European research into battery performance, fast-charging technology, and critical raw material substitution.
However, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) has pushed back against the proposal, warning against a regulatory framework that favors a single technology. “Particularly in heavy-duty transport, fuel cell technology, alongside electric mobility, will play a crucial role in achieving climate-neutral transport,” said VDA President Hildegard Müller. “For the automotive industry, battery-electric drives, complemented by hydrogen for fuel cells and combustion engines, are essential for the path to climate neutrality.”