Shift2Zero: When Europe Accelerates Toward Zero-Emission Urban Logistics – and Clem’ Is on Board!

Lucas
21 juil.
2 min de lecture

A European Project to Reinvent Last-Mile Delivery

On July 8, 2025, the Shift2Zero consortium officially launched a research and innovation initiative to design a new generation of electric light commercial vehicles (e-LCVs) and logistics services tailored to city centers – with an expected rollout by 2028.

Coordinated by the Catalan technology center Eurecat and funded by Horizon Europe (project no. 101192375), Shift2Zero brings together 30 partners across 10 countries – including vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, logistics companies, research institutions, and local authorities – to accelerate the decarbonization of urban freight.

Six Custom-Built Electric Vans Under Development

The project will deliver six “right-sized,” mission-oriented e-LCV prototypes, featuring:

Modular cargo platforms, allowing easy switching between refrigerated, e-commerce, and other formats;
Geofencing and regenerative driving to cut emissions and ensure safer operation in low-emission zones;
Bidirectional charging (V2G) and low-resistance tires developed in partnership with Michelin and Brembo.

Real-world trials will take place in five pilot cities – Bologna, Brussels, Bergen, Thessaloniki, and Wrocław – to assess performance under operational conditions.

Why Urban Logistics Needs Shift2Zero

According to the World Economic Forum, freight vehicle activity is expected to increase by 36% by 2030 – which could lead to a 32% rise in emissions if no action is taken. Shift2Zero tackles this dual challenge: preserving air quality while managing the growing demand for deliveries driven by e-commerce, returns, and cold-chain logistics.

Clem’: Bringing French Know-How to the Table

A longstanding partner to municipalities and housing providers for electric car-sharing, Clem’ contributes:

its multi-modal operations platform (car-sharing, EV charging, e-shuttles) to maximize e-LCV usage;
its on-the-ground experience in dense urban and peri-urban neighborhoods;
use cases combining passenger and freight transport – a core objective of Shift2Zero, aiming to pool fleet usage.

Open Governance and Public Visibility

During the POLIS Leadership event in Rome, Andrea Condotta (GRUBER Logistics) emphasized that “without cooperation between policy, industry, and research, decarbonization will remain a pipe dream.” A sentiment shared by Clem’ and the entire consortium: only solutions co-designed with on-the-ground operators can truly go the “last mile” to zero emissions.

What’s Next?

2025–2026: Design and prototyping of the six vehicles, definition of operational scenarios.
2026–2027: Pilot testing in five cities, data collection, and refinements.
2028: Dissemination of results and business model to enable European-wide scalability.

To follow project updates, subscribe to the Shift2Zero newsletter or search #Shift2ZeroProject on LinkedIn... and of course, stay tuned to Clem-e.com!