Initiative Overview
On September 16, the European Commission presented the "European Clean Transport Corridor Initiative" to accelerate charging infrastructure development for heavy-duty vehicles on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), with support from nine countries: Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, and Sweden.
Pilot Case Details
As the first phase, two corridors connecting the Scandinavian Peninsula to Sicily, Italy, and from the North Sea coast to the Baltic Sea region countries were selected as pilot cases. The plan involves adding 236 charging stations across the two corridors, expanding the total to 353 stations.
Implementation Policy and Policy Background
This initiative was outlined in the industrial action plan for the automotive sector and is implemented based on the competitiveness policy coordination tool of the Competitiveness Compass. It focuses on accelerating permits and activating financing that reduces investment risks, including transmission network development related to the Renewable Energy Directive.
Commitment Declaration by Nine-Nation Ministers
Transport and infrastructure ministers from the nine countries issued a ministerial declaration, announcing specific initiatives aimed at facilitating cross-border zero-emission freight transport by 2030. They promote coordination of charging infrastructure development with energy-related policies, flexible utilization of transmission networks, permit simplification, and utilization of battery storage systems.
Market Background and Challenges
According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, the share of electric vehicles in the EU's heavy truck market in the first half of 2025 was only 3.6%, an increase of 1.5 percentage points from the same period the previous year, revealing that delays in charging infrastructure development remain an impediment to widespread adoption.