Trucks
According to Volvo Trucks’ three-path strategy, electric, gas, HVO, biodiesel, and hydrogen will all play a role in helping the industry transition towards a fossil fuel-free future. But how do you know which of the three paths are best for your business?
“We don’t believe that there will be one silver bullet solution that will replace diesel,” says Lars Mårtensson, Director Environment, Volvo Trucks.“ Instead, we believe we’ll see several alternative drivelines being used, namely battery electric, combustion engines running on renewable fuels, and in the longer term, hydrogen fuel cell technology.”
However, which alternative is best for your business will depend on multiple factors. The answer will differ across industries, segments, countries and individual companies.
Here are just some of the questions that you should ask yourself:
- Which driveline is most compatible with your business’ operations?
- What does each fuel cost in your market?
- What infrastructure is available, and are there any future investments planned?
- What is a driveline’s full carbon footprint?
- Does a driveline offer any added benefits?
Which driveline is most compatible with your business’ operations?
Range and refueling (or charging) times are important considerations, since some operations do not allow for frequent or long breaks. Any truck that can complete its daily operation on one overnight charge can already transition to electric. For example, Millenaar & van Schaik Transport is successfully transporting heavy loads with its electric trucks for 10-12 hours per day on one overnight charge.
Trucks with longer ranges that can integrate an opportunity to recharge during their daily schedules will also find it easier to transition to electric. However, electric is not yet a viable option for long-haul trucks that cannot adapt to limited ranges and long recharging times. Instead, they could be better placed looking at other fuels like gas, HVO, biodiesel or in the future hydrogen, which can offer similar range and refueling times as diesel.
Weight and payload should also be considered, since battery weight can reduce a truck’s capacity. In some segments, where maximizing payload is essential, this can make battery electric less viable.
Transitioning to an alternative fuel won’t happen overnight, and it is more likely to be a step-by-step process. It could also involve a mixture of different drivelines depending on each route and assignment. For example, perhaps one or two routes are perfect for electric trucks, while the others can run on gas, HVO or biodiesel.
“Determining the best alternative fuel for your business will depend a lot on your own unique circumstances.”
What does each fuel cost in your market?
For any business, an alternative fuel needs to be financially viable as well as practical. Whether it's diesel, electricity or gas, prices can vary and fluctuate between markets, and this will have a big impact on your total cost of ownership (TCO) calculations. There are also local regulations and subsidies, which can affect prices in your market.
“It’s important to factor in future trends and projections too, where the political ambition is to replace the use of diesel,” says Lars. “For example, diesel becomes less competitive in Europe the coming years as the EuroVignette directive and ETS2 are implemented.”
What infrastructure is available and are there any future investments planned?
Being able to access a given fuel when and where you need it is an obvious prerequisite. For example, some businesses will have the option of investing in charging at their own depot, which could be enough to enable electric trucks to be used for their operations. Others will need to use public charging stations or refueling stations for other fuels.
This is also a parameter that is continuously changing for many businesses as the availability of alternative fuels increases. In the beginning of 2026, there are now 800 LNG refueling stations in Europe.1 Meanwhile, there are nearly 1000 public charging stations across Europe that can be used by heavy-duty trucks.2
And the infrastructure is expected to keep growing. Under the EU’s Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), by 2030 charging stations for heavy-duty trucks must be available every 120 km along Europe’s main highway network, and hydrogen refueling stations every 200 km.
“Most new charging points and refueling stations are strategically located on key transport routes. We can advise you on what stations are available on your routes, and what is planned over the coming years. Just one extra station in the right location can make a huge difference,” explains Lars Mårtensson.
“We can advice you on what stations are available on your routes, and what is planned over the coming years. Just one extra station in the right location can make a huge difference.”
What is a driveline’s full carbon footprint?
The answer to this will differ from country to country as alternative fuels can be produced in different ways. The important thing is to not only look at a driveline’s tank-to-wheel (TTW) emissions, which are the tailpipe emissions from the truck when in use. Look at the well-to-wheel (WTW) emissions, which include the fuel’s extraction, refinement, production and delivery.
For example, WTW emissions for an electric truck will vary greatly depending on whether the electricity it runs on has been generated by fossil coal, or at the other end of the spectrum, renewable energy. The same applies to how hydrogen is produced, while the full environmental impact of HVO and biodiesel can vary depending on the feedstock used in their production.
Assuming the objective behind transitioning to an alternative fuel is to decarbonize, calculating a fuel’s full carbon footprint can help you choose the optimal driveline.
Does a driveline offer any added benefits?
One of the added benefits of an electric driveline is its low noise. And this can open up new opportunities to operate in areas sensitive to noise, such as residential streets, or at nighttime. This is particularly beneficial for trucks that operate in refuse collection, urban distribution and inner-city construction.
Having zero tail pipe emissions means less air pollution in the surrounding areas, and can contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment for those living and working around the truck. Electric drivelines can also be used to power superstructures and axillary equipment, such as cranes, concrete mixers and garbage compactors.
Being able to access zero- and low-emission zones is another advantage. So too is driver comfort due to low noise and less vibration. Operating zero tailpipe-emission vehicles can also help with brand image or secure new business with companies looking to reduce their carbon footprints.
Choose the fuel that is right for you
“Determining the best alternative fuel for your business will depend a lot on your own unique circumstances,” says Lars. “This is why we believe we’ll see multiple fuels will be adopted in the coming decades, and why Volvo Trucks plans to continue investing in a range of different drivelines.”
You can read more about Volvo Truck’s three-path strategy here.
To learn more about different alternative fuels for heavy-duty trucks, you might be interested in:
- What’s the fastest way to reduce the climate impact of your business?
- What is the best alternative fuel for heavy-duty trucks?
- Different routes to a fossil fuel-free future for trucks
1 ‘Stations map’, Eurogas, https://www.eurogas.org/resources/stations-map-get-directions/
2 ‘Heavy-Duty Electric Truck Charging Infrastructure in Europe: EAFO Data Update – November 2025’, European Alternative Fuels Observatory, 18 December 2025, https://alternative-fuels-observatory.ec.europa.eu/general-information/news/heavy-duty-electric-truck-charging-infrastructure-europe-eafo-data-update
The road to more sustainable trucking
From alternative fuels to improved fuel efficiency, there are multiple ways to reduce your truck’s carbon footprint. Learn more about how Volvo Trucks can help you meet your sustainability targets.
Find the right truck for you
Browse the full range of Volvo Trucks’ low and zero-emission drivelines and truck models, including battery-electric, gas-power, and combustion engines compatible with alternative fuels such as HVO and biodiesel.
