As pioneers like EUTRACO invest in electric trucks and Volvo Trucks continues to innovate in sustainable technologies, banks play a crucial role by providing financing solutions that make these ambitious goals achievable.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"The transportation company: EUTRACO"},{"alignedImage":{"position":"bottom","extension":"webp","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/7955dec4756569a9/original/Serge-Gregoir-Eutraco-en-Hugo-Seghers-Volvo-Trucks.webp","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/24795840-2650-4f00-aaac-9338e5d648b3/Serge-Gregoir-Eutraco-en-Hugo-Seghers-Volvo-Trucks"},"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"The ambition of logistics player EUTRACO is crystal clear: by 2035 it wants to operate completely carbon neutral. A goal that goes beyond Europe's demands, but is absolutely achievable, according to CEO Serge Gregoir. “We have no excuse not to achieve this,” he states.
The first step? A 14 million euro investment in 50 electric trucks from Mercedes-Benz, to be delivered this year. With a battery capacity of 600 kWh and a range of 500 kilometers, these trucks are at the heart of a broader sustainability strategy that includes buildings and charging stations. “This is not an isolated purchase, it is a transformation of our entire ecosystem,” Gregoir adds.
It's not just about the cost a truck today. Look at the total cost of ownership. Electric trucks are cheaper in maintenance and energy.
The question remains how to make sustainable logistics financially viable without passing the bill on to clients. The higher purchase cost of electric trucks - two to three times higher than a diesel - can be daunting. Gregoir sees this differently: “It's not just about the cost a truck today. Look at the total cost of ownership. Electric trucks are cheaper in maintenance and energy.”
“You need to be able to generate that energy yourself, which makes you less dependent on market fluctuations in energy prices. Pursuing grid independence should be a core objective. Moreover, with the right partners, such as ING, you can find creative financing solutions.”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"The manufacturer: Volvo Trucks"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Volvo Trucks has been committed to green technologies for decades. A decade ago there was no market for their hybrid trucks, but the all-electric trucks the manufacturer has been marketing since 2019 are finding their way to carriers. Although Hugo Seghers sees that there is still a lot of potential in Belgium: “In the Netherlands, we see executives asking to buy electric trucks themselves. Here in Belgium, dealers often have to proactively approach clients,” he explains.
Seghers points to a lack of long-term vision, as developed by EUTRACO: “Electric trucks are still often seen as an expensive option, without considering the energy ecosystem, rather than as a strategic investment.”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"De bank: ING"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Banks play a key role in making the logistics sector more sustainable. Financial institutions increasingly understand that greening is not only a social responsibility, but also an opportunity to make their own portfolio more sustainable.
We finance electric vehicles on longer terms to keep the initial additional cost manageable for our clients.
Lawrence Vanhove, Head of Transport & Logistics at ING Business Banking emphasizes that these partner chips are essential: “Financial institutions are also experiencing the pressure to green their loan portfolios. We are in the same boat as our customers. That's why we are happy to enter into discussions with our customers about making their fleets and logistics buildings more sustainable and facilitate investments in charging infrastructure and energy generation and storage. Thus, we finance electric vehicles on longer terms to keep the initial additional cost manageable for our customers.”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"5 lessons for logistics companies"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"1. Technology is ready, now the mindset.
Both EUTRACO and Volvo Trucks emphasize that the technology to drastically reduce CO₂ emissions is already available. Electric trucks, such as the e-trucks with a range of 500 kilometers in which EUTRACO is investing, prove that sustainability is feasible. What is often missing is long-term helicopter vision.
2. Collaboration is crucial.
The transition to sustainability is not a solo journey. Banks, manufacturers and logistics players must work together on creative financing models and technological solutions. Consider extending loan terms or developing integrated ecosystems with charging stations and local energy solutions - including to generate and store their own green power.
3. Customer focus remains central.
Sustainability does not have to come at the expense of the customer. As Serge Gregoir points out: the “willingness to pay” for green solutions is limited, so carriers must find ways to provide sustainable services without raising prices sharply. “It is nonsense to say that the customer always has to step up. Every logistics company must look for a recipe where sustainability and price control go hand in hand. You can justify higher rates if you add value and operate in a customer-oriented way.”
4. Regulation as a catalyst.
Initiatives such as ETS II (which links emission costs to fossil fuels) and road pricing based on CO₂ emissions as of 2026, force transport companies to make more sustainable choices.Proactively anticipating these regulations gives a competitive advantage and prevents high long-term costs.
5. Sustainability as employer branding.
Investing in sustainability not only attracts customers, but also talent. Employees with a broad perspective appreciate companies that have a clear vision of sustainability.Hugo Seghers: “Companies with a solid sustainability
With significant legislative changes on the horizon, the transport and logistics industry faces extensive challenges, both in terms of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and fulfilling new monitoring and reporting requirements. How can you prepare your business for the new Emission Trading System (ETS2) and guidelines for sustainability reporting (CSRD)? Discover our ING report, in collaboration with Log!Ville.
"},"title":"The impact of ETS2 and CSRD on transport and logistics"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Find out how ING supports businesses in the sustainable transition.
These article was previously published in Trends/Tendances.
"},"title":"Clever Together"}]},"hasMacro":false,"id":"1bc51c5d-cd12-4a81-8f59-09ab806e54fe","legalZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that’s not. See how we’re progressing on ing.com/climate.
"}}]},"localeString":"en-GB","mainHeaderZone":{"backLink":{"textLink":{"text":"Sustainability is everyone's business","url":"/en/business/sustainable-business"}},"componentType":"editorialHeader","coreHeader":{"body":"With the European Green Deal and the growing demand for zero-emission solutions, transporters, manufacturers and banks face a shared challenge: how to accelerate the transition to sustainability without losing financial stability?","title":"Climate neutral transport is ambitious, but feasible"},"date":"2025-01-23","readingTime":4},"publishDate":"2025-02-17T14:55:30.649+01:00"}}