SMATRICS E-Mobility Talk: Decarbonization of Commercial Vehicle Traffic
The 8th SMATRICS E-Mobility Talk, held on December 11, 2025, focused on current developments in the decarbonization of commercial vehicle traffic. Participants included Hauke Hinrichs (CEO of SMATRICS), Hubert Schlager, Managing Director of Schlager Transport, Stephan Schwarzer, Managing Director of eFuels Alliance, Thomas Weiß, eMobility Consultant at Daimler Truck Austria GmbH, and Michal Kubinec, Head of Department at OMV Retail Austria.
The European climate targets for decarbonizing the transportation sector are on the table. Commercial vehicle traffic plays a particularly important role in this: according to the Clean Industrial Deal, CO2 emissions must be reduced by 45 percent by 2030, and by 2050, the entire European transportation industry must be decarbonized. To achieve this, all possible measures must be taken. The key to this is the interaction of various alternative driving technologies in order to achieve the greatest and fastest effect.
Sharing E-Charging Infrastructure
In Austria, e-mobility is already well established, with almost 35,000 public charging points and around 250,000 registered battery-electric cars. One reason for this is the high efficiency of this technology, according to Hauke Hinrichs, CEO of SMATRICS: “Electric cars are charged with electricity from renewable sources and achieve an overall efficiency of 73 percent, even when transmission losses are taken into account. No other alternative drive system achieves this level of efficiency.” The efficiency of hydrogen is only 22 percent, and that of eFuels is currently only 13 percent.
In the past, the focus has been on ramping up production of electric cars, but now electric trucks are catching up. Because vehicle turnover in the logistics sector is particularly fast, the ramp-up in this area will also be much quicker. Current government subsidies are also supporting this development. The shared use of public charging infrastructure brings with it additional requirements: separate lanes, turning areas, and higher charging capacities specifically for trucks. Megawatt charging (MCS) significantly reduces charging times for trucks, but also entails higher installation and energy costs. Modern ultra-fast charging points with 400 kW of power are already widely available and are well received by car and truck drivers. The joint venture between SMATRICS and EnBW will therefore continue to drive forward the expansion of shared ultra-fast charging infrastructure for cars and trucks in the coming year, as already implemented this year at the charging park in Regau (Upper Austria).
Another important aspect for commercial vehicle traffic is charging at the depot: “We can assume that 80 percent of charging will take place at the depot. This requires intelligent charging infrastructure with its own power supply, appropriate storage options, load management, and instant service in the background,” says Hinrichs.
Solutions for the Transition are Important
With electric cars accounting for just under five percent of the market (projection for the end of 2025), it is also clear that combustion engines will remain on the roads for decades to come. According to Stephan Schwarzer, Managing Director of the eFuels Alliance, eFuels offer a low-threshold opportunity to defossilize conventionally powered vehicles: "To achieve climate targets, we need an alternative energy source in the tanks of existing combustion engines. The good thing about eFuels is that this requires no adjustments to either vehicles or infrastructure."
The significance of eFuels lies in reducing dependence on oil. eFuels use energy from wind and sun, whose potential exceeds global energy demand many times over. The question of efficiency is irrelevant here, because the aim is to replace large quantities of crude oil with climate-neutral fuels. This form of energy is currently still in its early stages, and the production of eFuels is quite challenging. Schwarzer therefore advocates for appropriate framework conditions: “Politicians are called upon here to remove restrictive regulations and pave the way for eFuels. Without subsidies, the initial phase will not be feasible, as was the case with e-mobility.” A mix of different driving technologies also offers a great opportunity to massively accelerate the decarbonization of street traffic. We must seek emission reductions where emissions are particularly high, and there is no way around traffic. Using all technologies, such as electric drives, biofuels, and eFuels, is the best way to achieve climate neutrality. The EU is fighting against its decline as an industry location, and saving the automotive industry, which is at its heart, is a priority. This also includes openness to technology as a measure.
Focus on Economic Efficiency
Clear economic criteria are crucial for all alternative drive technologies. For over 15 years, OMV has been committed to technological openness and has already gained extensive experience with e-mobility, hydrogen, LNG, and HVO. "The focus will always be on the customer. Every drive technology must be economically viable along the entire value chain," emphasizes Michal Kubinec, Head of Department OMV Retail Austria. Early-stage subsidies make sense, but must be used in a targeted manner.
The hydrogen market has also proven to be premature, despite the company's willingness to invest heavily in it for more than a decade. Whether hydrogen will play a role in heavy-duty transport in the future also depends on how other technologies, particularly electric trucks, develop in the near future. The situation is similar with LNG, whose import to Austria is complex and costly, while at the same time the supply of suitable vehicles is declining. With HVO, the clear advantage is that existing fleets and infrastructure can still be used.
OMV sees electromobility, whose use in the truck sector has recently risen sharply, as a promising solution for the future. “More and more trucks are using ultra-fast charging points on their daily routes, combining business with leisure: mandatory rest periods can be conveniently combined with meals and toilet breaks,” says Kubinec. The company will therefore continue to focus on expanding the charging infrastructure at its own locations in the future: The network of 500 existing charging points is to be expanded by a further 170 new charging points in 2026, at least a third of which will be suitable for trucks – a decisive step towards a denser and more reliable charging network.
Taking a Holistic Approach to Fleet Electrification
The Upper Austrian company Schlager Transport demonstrates just how economical the electrification of a vehicle fleet can be today. The logistics company began the transition three years ago. “It quickly became clear that switching to electric trucks could only work if we took a holistic approach,” explains Hubert Schlager, managing director of Schlager Transport. In addition to its own charging infrastructure, the company operates a 765 kWp photovoltaic system with 1.6 MW of energy storage and has already achieved a self-sufficiency rate of 56 percent this year. The electric truck fleet has now covered one million kilometers, saving around 240,000 liters of diesel – without a single downtime incident. Six more vehicles have already been ordered for next year. The acceptance among drivers is also particularly encouraging: a more comfortable driving experience, less noise, and a surprisingly long service life.
Schlager sees challenges primarily in long lead times and intelligent load management—for example, in dealing with peak demands or necessary transformer capacities. Nevertheless, the entrepreneur is convinced: “Logistics is a clear driver of the energy transition. By electrifying my fleet, I can influence my own costs. So this is by no means an ideological issue, but an economic one.” At the same time, Schlager sees great opportunities for European vehicle manufacturers, as all leading producers now offer fully functional electric truck models. This momentum must be exploited.
Reliable Partnerships are Crucial
Manufacturers also confirm that the electrification of commercial vehicle traffic is progressing both technically and economically. Daimler Truck began mass production in 2021 and offers electric truck models with ranges of up to 500 kilometers. Charging takes around 90 minutes (20 to 80 percent) with ultra-fast chargers (400 kW) and only about 30 minutes with megawatt charging technology (up to 1.1 MW charging power). A test drive (with 40 tons) through 22 European countries showed an average consumption of 103 kWh per 100 kilometers – a clear advantage over diesel. “Our vehicles consume up to 50 percent less energy per kilometer and are CO₂-neutral, with no particulate matter and significantly less noise,” emphasizes Thomas Weiß, eMobility Consultant at Daimler Truck Austria GmbH. The driving experience is also noticeably improved: less vibration, better stability and faster response times.
Daimler sees hydrogen trucks as a useful addition to long-distance transport, as they can achieve ranges of around 1,000 kilometers. However, cooperation with infrastructure operators and politicians remains crucial. “Without a reliable charging infrastructure, or in the future, H2 charging facilities, depot charging facilities, and appropriate subsidy programs, it won’t work. We have to get projects off the ground together.” The company’s goal is clear: by 2030, the ratio of diesel and electric trucks should be balanced—and by 2039, only trucks with alternative drive systems should roll off the production line.