Shift2Zero: Redesigning Urban Electric Vehicles for Smarter, Greener Logistics

ALICE is pleased to announce its involvement in the newly launched Shift2Zero project, a pan-European initiative aimed at advancing the next generation of right-sized electric commercial vehicles tailored for the evolving demands of urban logistics and mobility. 

With a total investment of €12 million under the Horizon Europe programme, the project brings together a consortium of 30 partners from 10 European countries, including logistics operators, vehicle manufacturers, technology developers, cities, and research institutions. The initiative is coordinated by the Eurecat Technology Centre. 

Meeting urban needs with modular innovation 

At the heart of the Shift2Zero project lies the ambition to develop modular, multi-purpose electric vehicles (N1 class) that can support both freight and passenger transport within cities. These vehicles are designed to operate seamlessly in constrained urban environments while complying with zero-emission regulations and delivering operational flexibility. 

Key technical innovations include: 

• Swappable cargo units supporting a wide range of payloads, including frozen, fresh, warm, and dry goods, enabling consolidated multi-temperature deliveries 
• Dual-purpose vehicle designs for flexible use in both passenger and freight contexts 
• Geofencing capabilities to enhance safety and compliance in regulated zones 
• Two-way charging systems to optimize energy efficiency and network integration 
• Energy-saving cabin heating solutions tailored to urban conditions 
• Advanced tire and brake technologies aimed at reducing non-exhaust emissions, a critical but often overlooked contributor to urban air pollution 

Real- world pilots across Europe 

To ensure practical applicability, the Shift2Zero solutions will be tested and validated through five pilot schemes across six European cities. These pilots will evaluate how the technologies perform under live urban logistics conditions, including challenges such as last-mile distribution, cold chain operations, and returns management. 

Supporting broader logistics and mobility goals 

Shift2Zero is aligned with the EU’s broader objective to decarbonise transport and create smarter, more sustainable urban mobility ecosystems. By designing vehicles that are modular, scalable, and adaptable to multiple operational profiles, the project supports efforts to reduce fleet fragmentation and improve asset utilization – key goals for future-ready logistics. 

A collaborative effort across sectors 

The project consortium includes major industry stakeholders such as GRUBER Logistics, DHL Express, DPD, Michelin, IVECO, and BREMBO, as well as public authorities like Brussels Mobility, City of Thessaloniki, City of Bergen, and the Municipality of Bologna. Several leading research institutions and universities are also involved, including Vrije Universiteit Brussel, RWTH Aachen, and CERTH. 

As a project partner, ALICE will support knowledge sharing and alignment with EU logistics roadmaps, ensuring that Shift2Zero’s innovations contribute to implementation of the Physical Internet Roadmap that is a key instrument to transition toward zero-emission, digitally connected freight systems.