EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas has kicked off the “Clean Transport Corridor” project, first announced in spring. The goal is accelerating electrification of key routes in the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). As part of the initiative, nine EU member states—Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, and Sweden — will join forces to build a fast-charging infrastructure for electric trucks.

At its core, the project is about the Commission and member states working together on a European push for clean transport corridors, especially along major logistics routes. Beyond simply deploying chargers, the initiative also focuses on streamlining permitting procedures, mobilizing financing, and ensuring priority grid expansion.

At the same time, the evTrailer 2 research project is already delivering tangible technology results. Building on its predecessor, the original evTrailer, the basis is a three-axle semitrailer with electric drive and energy storage designed to support conventional tractor units weighing up to 12 tons. That first version demonstrated greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potential of up to 20 percent.

With evTrailer 2, the focus has shifted to heavy distribution transport above 12 tons. The research team set out to meet the EU’s 2030 target of a 30 percent cut in GHG emissions by the end of the project—and according to the team, they achieved it. By optimizing the electrically powered trailer for traction cooperation with the tractor, the project reports GHG savings of 30 to 40 percent.

DAF Trucks announced the beginning of its XD Electric and XF Electric trucks series production in the fourth quarter of 2025. With this move, the Dutch Paccar subsidiary is expanding its traditionally diesel-based XD and XF ranges into the electric segment. According to the manufacturer, the new models were designed from the ground up with electrification in mind. Production will take place in a dedicated assembly hall in Eindhoven, where battery modules and high-voltage components are integrated.

The trucks are suitable for both regional distribution and long-haul operations. The XD Electric can be equipped with batteries ranging from 210 to 525 kWh, offering ranges between 200 and 500 kilometers. The XF Electric variant is also designed for long-distance use. Modular Paccar electric motors deliver between 170 and 350 kW and up to 2,400 Nm of torque. DC fast charging is possible at up to 325 kW, with an optional 22-kW onboard AC charger available. Various axle configurations for tractors and rigid trucks allow for gross combination weights of up to 50 tons.

The “Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components” (PEM) chair at RWTH Aachen University has received individual operating approval for its fuel cell truck under the SeLV project, enabling the prototype to be tested on public roads. The vehicle will be presented at the NUFAM commercial vehicle trade fair in Karlsruhe at the end of September.

The SeLV project takes a modular approach: the developed powertrain combines a fuel cell with electric components and can be used in both new vehicles and retrofit applications. The goal is to maintain range and payload in heavy-duty transport while significantly reducing CO₂ emissions.

The Mercedes-Benz eIntouro, Daimler Buses’ electric intercity bus, has successfully completed an extensive summer testing program in Andalusia. Over five weeks, the bus was subjected to extreme conditions: ambient temperatures up to 45 °C (113 °F), mountainous terrain with elevation changes up to 2,500 meters, full-load drives, and use of public fast-charging stations. Testing focused on battery and HVAC thermal management, the performance of the entire electric drivetrain under heat and load, and charging behavior in real-world conditions.

In addition, separate winter tests were carried out north of the Arctic Circle at temperatures down to −30 °C (−22 °F) to assess year-round performance. Two prototypes covered a round trip from Mannheim to Granada—about 4,000 kilometers—using public fast chargers in Germany, France, and Spain.