Last week, the European Commission put forward a groundbreaking proposal: Exempting electric trucks from tolls should be made possible at the national level until 2031. While this doesn't involve creating a direct funding pool – it's not a subsidy in the traditional sense – this step sends a strong signal: Those who switch now could potentially save real money. Because freight companies are efficiency-driven: If it's cheaper, it's done. The planned toll exemption can achieve precisely that – it significantly reduces operating costs and makes switching to battery-electric trucks economically attractive.

Toll exemption – a smart incentive, not a subsidy

Many people immediately think of subsidies when they hear the word "funding"—money flows freely. But the EU strategy is different: it provides relief through toll exemptions, avoids inefficient capital allocation, and simultaneously prevents unnecessary bureaucracy. The message is clear: "Invest and profit in the long term!" This boosts consumer spending.

But how significant is the actual savings potential? Let's calculate the example of a typical freight forwarding company in Germany.

Toll savings for German freight forwarding company in goods transport

The key instrument for promoting the switch to battery-electric trucks is intended to be toll savings – and this is precisely what makes this approach so effective. Unlike traditional funding programs, where companies have to spend time submitting applications, providing documentation, and waiting for approvals, the toll exemption is simple, automatic, and unbureaucratic. It takes effect immediately upon use, thus reducing ongoing operating costswithout creating additional administrative burdens. This is a crucial advantage, especially in the fast-paced daily operations of a freight forwarding company – because not every company has the personnel resources to delve deeply into funding guidelines and application procedures.

Example calculation

To make the potential tangible, it's worth looking at a realistic example: A typical heavy goods vehicle in national freight transport travels approximately 100,000 kilometers. Of this, roughly 80% – in a typical route mix in Germany – is on toll roads, i.e., 80,000 kilometers per year.

New toll rates have been in effect in Germany since July 2024, varying depending on weight, emissions class, and number of axles. For modern Euro VI vehicles with four axles, the current rate is approximately €0.316 per kilometer. Extrapolating this to the annual mileage subject to tolls results in an annual cost of €25,280 per vehicle.

If this sum is eliminated by switching to a battery-electric drive, this means an annual saving of exactly this amount for each electric vehicle used – and this is expected to continue until the end of 2030, provided that the EU proposal is implemented into national law as planned.

For companies seeking optimization opportunities within an already strained cost structure, this relief is a clear argument with sound economic logic. Freight forwarders don't make decisions based on ideology, but on efficiency. And: If a technology like the electric truck works in everyday use and is also cost-effective, then the transformation will happen naturally.

Everyday operating costs – electricity beats diesel

Besides the toll exemption, one factor is particularly crucial for the economic success of electric trucks: operating costs. And here, a closer look reveals a surprisingly clear advantage – especially when companies invest in their own charging infrastructure.

A typical electric truck consumes around 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity per 100 kilometers. With an annual mileage of 100,000 kilometers, this equates to an energy requirement of 100,000 kWh per vehicle. If – as is the case with many fixed-location freight forwarding companies – approximately 80% of this requirement can be met by charging at their own depot, electricity costs can be significantly reduced. For in-house generation or procurement via long-term contracts, a cost of around 15 cents per kilowatt-hour is typically calculated. For the remaining 20%, we simply assume that charging at public charging points is necessary. We estimate the cost for this at around 50 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Calculating this mix results in electricity costs of €12,000 (for the 80,000 kWh stored) and €10,000 (for the remaining 20,000 kWh used on the road). In total, this amounts to approximately €22,000 per year per vehicle for energy.

For comparison: A conventional diesel truck consumes about 28 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers in long-distance transport. With an annual mileage of 100,000 kilometers, this equates to roughly 28,000 liters. At an average diesel price of €1.50 per liter, this results in annual fuel costs of €42,000 – more than twice as much as for an electric truck.

The energy cost savings alone amount to approximately €20,000 per year per vehicle. Combining this figure with the previously calculated toll savings of around €25,280 results in an impressive overall advantage: around €45,000 more in the company's coffers annually – and that's without even considering other benefits such as lower maintenance costs, enthusiastic drivers, or a positive image impact.

These figures speak for themselves: Companies that are structurally prepared and create charging facilities at their own location can score points not only ecologically, but also economically with a battery-electric truck. It's no wonder that more and more companies are taking the plunge – the conditions have rarely been as favorable as they are now.

Where change is still stalling: Infrastructure & electricity sources

As compelling as the economic arguments for electric trucks are, a real breakthrough will only occur if the external conditions also improve. And this is precisely where one of the biggest challenges currently lies.

A key problem is the massive shortage of parking spaces for trucks. Depending on the source, between 20,000 and 23,000 parking spaces – especially along major transit routes and in metropolitan areas like the Rhine-Main region. The consequence: trucks are increasingly forced to stop on hard shoulders or access roads – a situation that is not only inconvenient but also an acute safety hazard . Anyone who has ever driven past a stationary truck on the hard shoulder at high speed can imagine how risky such situations are for drivers – not to mention the legally mandated rest periods, which can hardly be observed in a restorative manner under such conditions.

Furthermore, without parking spaces, there are no charging points. While depot charging already works well – especially for regional routes – the development of a high-performance charging infrastructure along long-distance routes has so far only been sporadic. Particularly in urban areas like Frankfurt, many parking spaces are already overloaded – free parking areas with fast-charging capabilities for electric trucks are practically nonexistent. Without targeted investments in so-called high-power chargers along the main routes, battery-electric long-distance transport will remain difficult to scale.

How green is the electricity really?

Another topic that is often neglected in the discussion is the actual source of the electricitythat powers the electric trucks. While the share of renewable energies in the German electricity mix is ​​now around 50 percent, this alone does not guarantee a consistently clean supply.

During periods of high demand – such as in the evenings or when there is no wind – electricity from fossil fuel sources must still be used. This means that even an electric truck causes CO₂ emissions when charged at such times – just not directly from the exhaust, but indirectly through the energy mix. The average emissions per kilowatt-hour fluctuate accordingly and, during critical periods, fall far short of the green potential that the technology actually offers.

Therefore, the greener the electricity, the more environmentally friendly the operation of the electric truck. Those who use solar power in their own depot or specifically utilize green electricity tariffs can significantly reduce the ecological footprint of their fleet – not only in terms of external perception, but measurably in their climate balance.

The year of decision: Why now is the right time

The pressure sustainable solutions in road freight transport is growing – politically, economically, and socially. At the same time, the starting position for companies has rarely been as favorable as it is today. The combination of economic advantages, technological maturity, and political support makes the switch to electric trucks more attractive than ever.

What currently speaks in favor of the decision:

• Toll exemption until 2031: approximately €25,280 savings per year and vehicle

• Lower energy consumption: up to €23,000 per year with depot charging

• Increased driving comfort and flexibility: quiet driving, stationary climate control, night driving possible.

• Technological openness: Market opening through incentives instead of bans

However, there are also clear tasks to be done:

• Charging infrastructure along the long-distance transport network must be expanded rapidly.

• Parking shortage remains critical – 20,000 to 23,000 new parking spaces are needed anyway – not even counting the lack of charging infrastructure.

• The electricity mix needs to become greener in the long term to unleash its full environmental impact.

OCS Compass: Why we believe in it

For us at OCS, one thing is clear: electric trucks represent both technological innovation and environmental protection. However, the necessary incentive to switch to electric vehicles will only be created with intelligent political tools such as toll exemptions. We expressly welcome this step by the EU Commission.

At the same time, we are committed to technological openness: Where electric trucks are (still) not economically or technically viable – such as in European long-distance transport without charging infrastructure or only at significantly uneconomical prices – other options (e.g. hydrogen or hybrid solutions) could make sense in the long term.

Closing remarks

With the toll exemption for electric trucks, the EU is taking a step towards a sustainable transport revolution. The combination of financial savings, driver comfort and environmental impact is compelling – provided that policymakers and businesses deliver the necessary charging infrastructure and parking spaces.

For OCS, this is more than just a trend reversal – it's strategically shaping the future. We are focusing on the smart combination of electric transport, green energy, and market-driven initiatives. Transformation won't happen through bans, but through opportunities – and this opportunity has grown significantly with the current EU proposal.