Picture: Milence
RAI Automotive Industry NL calls for the accelerated realization of the first charging corridors in cooperation with the government, the logistics sector, grid operators, and industry. These corridors should not stand alone but be embedded in a broader ecosystem where depot charging, public charging, and initiatives such as the Charging Energy Hubs (CEH) play a crucial role.
The Challenge: Infrastructure is Now the Limiting Factor
Both European and national regulations impose strict emission reduction targets on freight transport. By 2030, approximately 30% of new heavy-duty vehicles must be zero-emission to meet the required 45% CO₂ reduction, rising to 90% by 2040. The industry has been investing heavily for years in electric drivetrains, battery production, and vehicle platforms. Look at initiatives from companies such as DAF, VDL, TNO, and the broader Battery Competence Cluster-NL (BCC-NL).
Yet a stalemate looms. The necessary charging infrastructure, particularly along strategic corridors, is lagging. The market is ready to invest but lacks clarity on energy security, permits, and policy continuity. As a result, the electrification of heavy-duty transport is likely to take off in countries like Germany and Sweden, where infrastructure rollout is already progressing, while in the Netherlands, it stagnates.
What is a ZE Corridor and Why is it So Important?
A Zero Emission corridor (ZE corridor) is a major logistics route equipped with predictable and powerful fast-charging infrastructure - ranging from 400kW to >1MW per charger and multiple chargers per location - with guaranteed grid connection, availability, and interoperability. Unlike urban zero-emission zones, which are important but solve only a small part of the problem, corridors target the areas where most kilometres and CO₂ emissions occur.
For logistics companies, a functioning corridor is the difference between a profitable, feasible business case and one that is simply unviable. Without infrastructure, there’s no viable Total Cost of Ownership (TCO); without TCO, no cost advantage; and without cost advantage, no motivation to transition.
Flagship Project: The First Dutch-German Battery Corridor
RAI Automotive Industry NL is working with partners on a pilot for the first battery-electric corridor between the Netherlands and Germany. The concept:
- 4 to 6 megawatt charging locations along a main route (in both directions).
- Fast-track implementation: realization including permits and grid connection within 12 months.
- 250+ electric trucks in use from 2027, operated by at least ten logistics providers.
This corridor is not a test but a launchpad for European-scale deployment. By joining forces, we can create an investment climate in which companies are willing to electrify with immediate benefits for the Dutch battery sector.
Battery Value Chain as Economic Engine
The corridor approach directly supports the ambitions of the Dutch battery value chain, represented by the Battery Competence Cluster – NL. Companies such as ELEO, LionVolt, Cleantron, and LeydenJar provide essential technologies for the next generation of battery packs. Without real-world applications in the Netherlands' heavy-duty sector, they risk seeking growth markets elsewhere.
The corridor acts as both a testing ground and a showcase: it offers Dutch companies the opportunity to test, validate, and demonstrate at scale, leading to significantly increased international export potential.
From Corridor to Ecosystem: The Role of Charging Energy Hubs
Installing charging stations alone is not enough. Large-scale electrification demands a new energy system flexible, intelligent, and spatially integrated. This is where the Charging Energy Hubs (CEH) project comes in. CEH is developing hubs where logistics, grid operations, storage, and charging infrastructure converge.
This creates a system in which:
- Grid congestion is prevented through local buffering and smart control.
- Logistics planning and energy demand are optimally aligned.
- Locations such as the CEH project in Veghel serve as practical models for future scalable corridor development.
The CEH approach provides replicable models that are crucial for corridor rollout: from site selection and governance to financing structures and load balancing.
From Vision to Execution: Now is the Time
The call to action is clear: give the corridor a flying start. That means:
- Priority for permitting and grid connections along logistics axes.
- Strong governmental coordination in planning and execution.
- Commitment from all value chain partners: from vehicle manufacturers to logistics providers, from energy companies to municipalities.
- Stimulating logistics operators financially, helping them to close the TCO gap for E-trucks and enabling a smoother transition.
With the Rotterdam–Duisburg pilot corridor as a starting point and CEH as a system enabler, we can truly accelerate the battery transition for heavy transport within the Netherlands.
The industry is ready. Now the infrastructure needs to be.
