The ELVIS Freight Alliance Advocates for Diversity in Fuels

The European Freight Alliance of International Forwarders (ELVIS) AG supports a secure economic decarbonization of the transport sector. A central recommendation drawn by the freight alliance from the latest study by Global Energy Solutions (GES) e.V. is that the mobility transition can only be mastered globally and not solely by Germany. Furthermore, there is no single fuel that serves as a comprehensive solution to reduce greenhouse gases in transport.

(Alzenau) Based on this, ELVIS advises the industry to test various fuel solutions, to act cautiously, and simultaneously calls on politics to promote alternative fuels. The study evaluates insights from politics, science, and industry to provide concrete approaches for freight and logistics companies – especially in heavy transport.

“Decarbonization in transport is a global concern, as the current supply chains in this sector are interconnected worldwide. One of the key findings of the current GES study is that Germany cannot develop a solution on its own,” says Nikolja Grabowski, board member of ELVIS AG. The Global Energy Solutions e.V. emphasizes in its study titled “Consideration of Various Drive Types for Heavy Trucks” that a purely national interpretation and regulatory systems without a global perspective can only inadequately promote global climate protection. This could even be economically damaging if the measures implemented are not applicable internationally. Heavy-duty transport alone accounts for about 30 percent of total greenhouse gases from road traffic in the EU. “The industry is aware of this and continuously works to reduce emissions wherever possible while remaining economically viable,” adds Grabowski.

Methanol Fuels as a Promising Solution

The underlying study considers synthetic fuels, particularly methanol diesel and gasoline, as a promising solution for climate neutrality in the heavy-duty truck sector. Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h.c. Franz Josef Radermacher, study leader and deputy chairman of the Global Energy Solutions e.V., emphasizes: “With synthetic fuels, the entire global fleet of about 1.3 billion vehicles – including around 300 million trucks – can be gradually guided towards climate neutrality through blending.” This enables the sustainable use of existing infrastructure and vehicles. Renewable HVO fuels should provide the quickest solution for reducing CO2 emissions, as there is already a growing number of HVO filling stations in Europe. Battery drives are suitable for smaller, lighter vehicles and shorter distances, while gas, fuel cells, hydrogen, and synthetic fuels should play a central role in heavy-duty transport. “There is no all-round solution. In the future, all these types of drives will be needed to ensure competitiveness while simultaneously reducing CO2,” says Radermacher.

Therefore, ELVIS recommends that medium-sized businesses avoid hasty decisions and initially stick to established fuels when renewing their fleets. Grabowski emphasizes: “The development of various technology paths in the market should initially continue to be pursued and must also be tested within the available possibilities to gain practical experience. It is important not to rely solely on one drive technology.” This way, the most efficient and widely implementable option that the market has to offer under the current conditions can be chosen. As a transitional solution, low-emission renewable fuels are expected to be the most suitable for reducing greenhouse gases in the short term.

Supporting Alliance Partners in Decarbonization

By participating in the study by Global Energy Solutions, the freight alliance actively contributes to promoting sustainable solutions in the transport sector. “We provide advisory support to our more than 250 alliance partners in their decarbonization efforts,” says Grabowski.

Photo: © ELVIS