Emerging technologies for transport decarbonisation

Decarbonising transport is one of the great climate challenges, and technology is one of its main levers. Beyond the electric vehicle, several emerging technologies now coexist to help companies cut emissions: fleet electrification, renewable hydrogen, advanced biofuels, artificial intelligence applied to routing, and energy storage. In this article we review the most relevant ones for freight transport.

Transport is the largest emitting sector in the European Union, according to the European Environment Agency, so making progress on its decarbonisation is a priority.

Fleet electrification: electric and hybrid vehicles

Electric vehicles are the most mature technology for decarbonising transport: running on an electric motor, they generate no direct emissions during operation. Their real impact depends on the electricity mix used to charge them, so it should be accounted for under Scope 2.

Hybrid vehicles, which combine a combustion engine and an electric motor, do not eliminate emissions but reduce them considerably. They are a useful intermediate option in an early transition phase, especially plug-in hybrids, which can cover distances in fully electric mode.

Renewable hydrogen and advanced biofuels

For the hardest-to-electrify segments, such as long-distance heavy transport, other alternatives are emerging:

• Renewable hydrogen: fuel-cell vehicles emit no CO2 in use and offer ranges and refuelling times close to diesel, although their roll-out depends on the availability of green hydrogen and infrastructure.
• Advanced biofuels: HVO (renewable diesel) and biomethane can cut emissions in existing fleets without changing the vehicle, with a benefit that varies according to the feedstock and its origin.

Artificial intelligence and operational optimisation

Not all decarbonisation requires changing the vehicle. Fleet management software, intelligent transport systems and artificial intelligence make it possible to optimise routes, reduce empty kilometres and improve the operation's energy efficiency, with fast results and low investment. It is one of the levers with the best cost-to-impact ratio in the short term.

Charging infrastructure and energy storage

Adopting electric fleets requires accessible charging infrastructure. Installing charging points at company premises demonstrates environmental commitment and streamlines operations.

In parallel, improvements in energy storage are decisive. High-density lithium-ion batteries extend range, and emerging technologies such as solid-state batteries promise greater capacity, faster charging and a longer service life.

How to measure the impact of these technologies

To know which technology cuts the most emissions, you have to measure. In transport, the reference standard is ISO 14083, the basis of the GLEC Framework and the European CountEmissions EU regulation, integrated into the broader framework of the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064. This lets you compare the real impact of each option on your logistics carbon footprint.

At Manglai we help you quantify the impact of adding these technologies to your fleet, with automated calculation of Scopes 1, 2 and 3 aligned with ISO 14083.