Strategies, tools and concepts for optimised road Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) long-haul logistics use cases (2ZERO Partnership)
HORIZON Innovation Actions
Basic Information
- Identifier
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-06
- Programme
- Cluster 5 Call 04-2025 (WP 2025)
- Programme Period
- 2021 - 2027
- Status
- Closed (31094503)
- Opening Date
- May 6, 2025
- Deadline
- September 4, 2025
- Deadline Model
- single-stage
- Budget
- €2,000,000
- Min Grant Amount
- €2,000,000
- Max Grant Amount
- €2,000,000
- Expected Number of Grants
- 1
- Keywords
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-06HORIZON-CL5-2025-04
Description
Project results are expected to contribute to all the following outcomes:
- Accelerated uptake of Heavy Duty (HD) Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) across the EU and Associated Countries, through innovative logistics models, addressing the need to optimise battery size and charging strategies across various logistics scenarios;
- Enhanced reliability and effectivity of the road freight systems enabled by the development and implementation of software tools for decision making considering truck configurations, charging strategies, missions and efficient operational planning of routes and services, including charging and interoperable cross-border services;
- Increased portfolio of real-life HD-BEV operational demonstrations for long-haul and cross border operations and associated logistics models;
- Enhanced understanding of EU and Associated Countries stakeholders’ needs for integrating HD-BEVs in logistics operations, also long-term novel usage models.
It is expected that by 2030 there will be around half a million of HD-BEV on European roads. Nonetheless, the current market application of these vehicles is largely confined to transport tasks with restricted range and considerable repetition. To expand their use, diverse strategies and applications must be explored and validated for scalability based on real data coming from logistics operators. The development of new application models should showcase the potential flexibility of HD-BEVs and assist end-users in establishing innovative usage frameworks and models.
Several actions are already underway for HD-BEV logistics (including the projects funded under the 2Zero topics HORIZON-CL5-2022-D5-01-08 and HORIZON-CL5-2024-D5-01-04) with a focus on extending range and charging capacity but also identifying challenges, gaps and impacts of HD-BEV usage in logistics operation. There is an urgent need to address these challenges and gaps for a smooth transition into daily operations and considering the wide variety of use cases and missions to be addressed.
Finding the optimal balance between the vehicle’s configuration and available charging infrastructure for different logistics use cases is key to address the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) challenge in the short and long term. This balancing will be enhanced by innovative logistics models and tools to further optimise logistics regional and long-haul operations in different regions in the EU and Associated Countries accelerating the deployment of HD BEVs for logistics.
Proposals are expected to address all the following aspects:
- Derive in-depth insights and lessons learnt from current long-haul transport missions in the EU and Associated Countries along major road arteries (e. g. the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) corridors and nodes) towards overcoming the limitations determined by vehicle range and TCO and propose cost-effective HD BEV based logistics and operational models, building on modular vehicles set up and sound charging strategies. These models should include use cases across the EU and Associated Countries focused on long-haul transport missions and be based on existing, real operations data;
- Test and validate in real demonstrations new logistic operational concepts and models allowing a scalable deployment of HD-BEV in long haul transport missions optimising the different variabilities of a shipment (range, charging time, various European regions, drivers required break/rest times etc.).
- Develop and test associated digital tools for effective, robust integration in the overall logistics operations and fleets, and facilitating interoperable cross-border services. These associated digital tools – where relevant also developed as digital twins – are to enable and support efficient optimisation of the concepts, models, solutions and operations;
- Real-life demonstrations should be based on existing fleets of operators (e.g. haulers, shippers, freight forwarders) with different categories of vehicles and missions. Demonstration should at least include 8 different types of long-haul missions in different climatic conditions, including cross-border missions, and involve several logistic companies and/or logistic users;
- Develop scenarios for optimum balance of vehicles’ performance and configuration, charging strategies and solutions. The scenarios will include information on the distance dependency as a function of vehicle combinations, location and capacity of charging stations and payload demands;
- The demonstrated concepts, models and tools should allow strategies for firm upscaling of HD-BEV implementation, taking into account the logistics operational models, the performance of complete vehicle combinations also considering the effects of on-board batteries on the ageing and energy recuperation;
The project(s) should take account Open Science, its practices and learning, and the project’s results will be enacted in line with FAIR principles for data[1].
This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on ‘Towards zero emission road transport’ (2ZERO). As such, projects resulting from this topic will be expected to report on the results to the European Partnership ‘Towards zero emission road transport’ (2ZERO) in support of the monitoring of its KPIs.
[1] Final Report and Action Plan from the European Commission Expert Group on FAIR Data, “TURNING FAIR INTO REALITY” - https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/7769a148-f1f6-11e8-9982-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
Destination & Scope
This Destination addresses activities that improve the climate and environmental footprint, as well as competitiveness, of different transport modes.
The areas of rail and air traffic management will be addressed through dedicated Institutional European Partnerships and are therefore not included in this document.
This Destination contributes directly to the Strategic Plan’s Key Strategic Orientations ‘Green transition’, ‘Digital transition’ and ‘A more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe’.
In line with the Strategic Plan, the overall expected impact of this Destination is to contribute to the ‘Achieving sustainable and competitive transport modes’.
The main impacts to be generated by topics under this Destination are:
Zero-emission road transport
- Clean solutions for zero tailpipe emission and environmentally friendly mobility for a climate neutral and zero pollution mobility with a higher level of circularity;
- Affordable, user-friendly, inclusive, safe, and secure concepts and technologies that are easy to deploy, considering needs, behaviours, and socio-economic status of end-users;
- Increased global competitiveness of the EU transport sector;
- Increased responsiveness of zero tailpipe emission vehicles and systems to diverse societal interests and concerns;
- Use cases and concepts for zero-emission road mobility of people and goods are successfully and innovatively demonstrated.
Aviation
- New and updated Aviation Research and Technology Infrastructures, where the new research and technologies will be developed and tested;
- Increased understanding and analysis of mitigation options of aviation’s non-CO2 climate impacts. New technologies for significantly lower local air-pollution and noise;
- Accelerated uptake of sustainable aviation fuels in aviation, including the coordination with Member States and private initiatives.
Waterborne transport
- The shipping industry (shipowners, equipment manufacturers, port authorities, terminal operators, and shipbuilders) will have access to high-power low and zero emission fuel solutions by 2030, leading to lower costs, enhanced energy efficiency, risk mitigation, standardised implementation, and improved operational efficiency through data science.
- Port operators and ship owners will benefit from increased safety and technical standards on ammonia and hydrogen bunkering, including failure scenarios and risk mitigation;
- The shipping industry will benefit from lower-cost and flexible battery-based solutions as primary sources of energy, higher safety standards and broader electrification solutions;
- Shipowners, ship operators and port authorities will have access to OPS (Onshore Power Supply) solutions that will enable them to comply with the current and incoming legislative framework;
- Policy makers and shipowners will benefit from access to accurate information and assessment methods on the direct energy savings resulting from the use of wind-assisted propulsion (WAP) systems under current legislative frameworks like FuelEU Maritime, contributing to the assessment of GHG intensity of energy used on-board. Shipowners, shipbuilders, and European shipyards will have access to commercially viable, cost-efficient, and easy-to-retrofit WAP solutions deployed at commercial scale, particularly for long-distance shipping;
- Shipyards will have innovative holistic intelligent design tools for various retrofit solutions, enhancing the competitiveness of European shipyards and marine equipment providers;
- Governments, port authorities, and shipping companies will benefit from access to standardised systems and tools for monitoring air pollutants and fuel consumption of ships, enabling compliance with current and incoming regulations on ship emissions;
- Policymakers and enforcement bodies will benefit from innovative tools to fulfil the requirements of the Ship Sourced Pollution Directive resulting in an increased environmental protection of sea waters.
Transport related environment and health
The better monitoring of the environmental performance and enforcement of emissions regulation and biodiversity protection in order to reduce the overall environmental impact of transport (e.g., as regards biodiversity, noise, pollution and waste) on human health and ecosystems.
Eligibility & Conditions
General conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
2. Eligible Countries
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
The following exceptions apply: subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025). [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Specific conditions
Not applicable.
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Support & Resources
Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
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Latest Updates
The call for proposals HORIZON-CL5-2025-04 closed on 04/09/2025. 167 proposals were submitted to the call. The breakdown per topic is:
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-01 (IA): 8
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-02 (IA): 7
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-03 (IA): 10
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-04 (RIA): 12
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-05 (IA): 9
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-06 (IA): 5
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-07 (CSA): 5
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-08 (RIA): 1
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-10 (IA): 3
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-11 (IA): 12
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-12 (RIA): 16
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-13 (IA): 5
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-14 (IA): 5
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-15 (IA): 6
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-16 (CSA): 4
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-18 (CSA): 1
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-19 (CSA): 4
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D6-01 (RIA): 19
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D6-02 (CSA): 1
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D6-11 (RIA): 23
HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D6-12 (IA): 11