ZEFES – Zero Emissions flexible vehicle platforms with modular powertrains serving the long-haul Freight Eco System

The ZEFES (Zero Emissions flexible vehicle platforms with modular powertrains serving the long-haul Freight Eco System) project started on the 1^st of January 2023. The ZEFES project, 3,5 years, and will contribute to the aims and objectives set out in the Green Deal and 2ZERO partnership, where Europe commits itself to be the first CO₂ neutral continent by 2050. The use of zero tailpipe emission vehicles for long-distance heavy-duty transport is an important pathway towards achieving these targets. In this project, such vehicles are Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs).

In the ZEFES project, 5 truck OEMs, 2 trailer OEMs, suppliers, logistic operators, and research partners will work together towards the overall goal of accelerating the integration of ZEVs for long distance heavy transport, by focusing on efficiency improvements, mass production capabilities and demonstrating the use of the technologies in daily operations.

ZEFES will bring ZEV adoption in the freight transport ecosystem a big step further

In 2025, nine different vehicle concepts (5 BEV and 4 FCEV) will run over 1Mio kilometres across EU corridors in real daily operations (use cases), guided and validated by a digital platform (developed within the project) bringing ZEV adoption in the freight transport ecosystem a big step further. Vehicles will carry 40+ tn over distances up to 750 kms and with 500 km average in daily operation.

ZEFES major outcomes are to:

• Execute real-world demonstrations of long-haul BEVs and FCEVs across Europe to take zero-emission long-haul goods transport in Europe to the next level.
• Create a pathway for long-haul BEVs and FCEVs to become more affordable and reliable, more energy efficient, with a longer range per single charge and reduced charging times able to meet the user’s needs.
• Develop technologies which can deliver promised benefits (easy handling, similar driving hours & charging/Hydrogen Refuelling stations, high speeds and ability to operate in complex transport supply chains).
• Make the mapping of flexible and abundant charging/Refuelling points and novel charging concepts.
• Create novel tools for fleet management to support the rising number of long-haul BEVs and FCEVs vehicles in the logistics supply chains.

For more information, revisit ZEFES informative session and stakeholder onboarding session.

Why ALICE is part of ZEFES?

ZEFES project is aligned with ALICE vision and mission i.e. to achieve an affordable transition towards zero emission logistics.

The ZEFES-project will support the transport and logistics ecosystem to address the interdependencies across sectors (energy, charging, vehicles and users) to accelerate the adoption of zero emissions road transport technologies in Europe. Fernando Liesa, Secretary General ALICE

Most of ALICE members including shippers, retailers, good manufacturers, logistics and transportation companies have ambitious targets in regards of transport and logistics decarbonization. Road transportation is a difficult sector to decarbonize but it is critical to ensure well-functioning of supply chains, therefore, advancing and maturing the zero emissions road transport solutions is key.

ZEFES project is a key enabler to identify and address the barriers for the adoption of zero emissions road transport technologies and to address the interdependencies across different sectors to create the appropriate conditions to speed up the transition towards zero emission logistics.

What is ALICE role in ZEFES?

ALICE will lever its network for the benefit of ZEFES and the other way round. ALICE is deeply involved in gathering users requirements through interviews, surveys, workshops, discussion forums and activities for exchange of practices to cross-fertilize, build capability and knowledge transfer from and towards ZEFES. Consensus will be raised on the critical barriers and needs to be addressed through ZEFES demonstrations and use cases applications.

ALICE will build links and liaise with relevant EU funded projects such as H2HAUL, SCALATE, EMPOWER, H2ACCELERATE (among others) and organizations such as 2ZERO to identify synergies, share learnings and identify remaining gaps. ALICE will support the transport and logistics companies engage with ZEFES through the Stakeholders Group.

If you have any question or want to connect with ZEFES click here to visit ALICE Knowledge Platform ZEFES page

ZEFES partnership

The project has 40 partners from all over Europe, representing the entire heavy-duty value chain. It includes ALICE members: VOLVO, SCANIA, GRUBER LOGISTICS, Gebrüder Weiss, Procter & Gamble, Colruyt Group, Grupo Sese, PTV and TNO.

ZEFES is co-funded by the European Union under grant number 101095856. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.