The Netherlands’ zero-emission zones for freight (ZEZ-F) are accelerating the transition to electrical supply fleets and reshaping metropolis logistics, in accordance with a brand new Clear Cities Marketing campaign briefing.
Launched in January 2025, and now together with 18 cities, the Dutch ZEZ-F are the world’s first nationwide programme focusing on items autos. The brand new evaluation reveals a pointy rise in electrical vans and vehicles the place ZEZ-F are in place or deliberate.
Within the first half of 2025, 78% of recent vans registered within the Netherlands had been battery-electric, in comparison with an EU common of simply 9%. Electrical truck gross sales within the Netherlands surged by 188% year-on-year, representing practically one in 5 new electrical vehicles offered throughout the EU. Municipalities with ZEZ-F, and people which merely neighbour them, present a quicker uptake of electrical industrial autos (6% on common, in comparison with simply 2% in non-ZEZ-F areas). Importantly, the variety of diesel vans and vehicles is already declining in ZEZ-F municipalities, whereas it continues to rise elsewhere.
“The Dutch expertise proves that zero-emission zones are a game-changer. They supply the clear guidelines and certainty companies must put money into electrical fleets. And so they imply our metropolis centres can turn out to be ‘residing districts’ for all by slicing air pollution, lowering noise, and creating more healthy, safer streets,” says Barbara Stoll, director of the Clear Cities Marketing campaign.
Success is determined by combining regulation with monetary assist: Dutch municipalities acquired devoted funding, whereas corporations might entry nationwide subsidies for electrical vans and vehicles, tax breaks, and exemptions through the transition. Enforcement is ensured by quantity plate recognition and fines.
Earlier analysis by Clear Cities and T&E additionally exhibits that by 2026, there shall be extra electrical vans fashions obtainable than diesel and petrol ones. Moreover, complete prices of possession are already decrease for many e-vans, a truth confirmed by many Dutch companies themselves.
Clear Cities recommends that European cities and nationwide governments replicate this mannequin by asserting ZEZ-F in metropolis centres with lengthy, phased, lead-in occasions, offering clear incentives for electrical or pedal-powered autos, guaranteeing coordination between nationwide and native guidelines to keep away from a patchwork of measures, and supporting companies with charging infrastructure and sensible recommendation.
With 33 European cities already planning zero-emission zones earlier than 2030, the Dutch expertise provides a blueprint for others to decarbonise the motion of products and ship more healthy cities for residents.
