From Ambition to Operational Reality: Key Takeaways from FCE’s Debate on Road Transport Decarbonisation

A timely exchange

The debate was hosted by Czech MEP Alexandr Vondra, with contributions from two other members of the European Parliament: Miriam Lexmann from Slovakia and Kosma Złotowski from Poland. The Central and Eastern European (CEE) perspective was therefore well represented, highly appropriate given the region’s dominance of European CRT – and also because of CEE’s distinct transport realities and infrastructure challenges.

Alexandr Vondra MEP
‍(Czech Republic)
‍European Conservatives and Reformists Group
Alexandr Vondra is a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI), and was the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the Euro 7 vehicle emissions proposal.

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Miriam Lexmann MEP
‍(Slovakia)
‍Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
First elected in 2020, Miriam Lexmann serves on key committees including International Trade (INTA) and Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL). She has also engaged in discussions around the broader impacts of EU policy frameworks on transport and the green transition.

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Kosma Złotowski MEP (Poland)
‍European Conservatives and Reformists Group
Kosma Złotowski has served on the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) for more than 10 years, where he has been actively involved in legislative work concerning road transport, mobility rules and the functioning of the EU’s internal transport market.

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The broader political landscape shaped much of the discussion. The Clean Corporate Vehicles initiative, the EU’s Fit for 55 package, the forthcoming Automotive Package and related climate legislation are collectively transforming how vehicles are manufactured, financed and operated across Europe. While the policy ambition is clear, implementation remains highly complex, particularly for commercial fleets navigating cross-border operations, diverse regulatory frameworks and the expansion of essential energy infrastructure.

The unique role of fleet card providers in the decarbonisation of CRT

Matthias Maedge opened the debate by stressing the distinctive position of fleet card providers in the transport ecosystem. Unlike many other stakeholders who operate at a strategic or regulatory level, FCE members maintain daily, data-driven relationships with fleet operators – from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to multinational logistics companies.

Also, fleet card systems today go far beyond fuel payments. They integrate telematics, emissions tracking, route optimisation, alternative fuel access and sustainability reporting. As a result, they generate real-time operational data that reveals not only emissions performance, but also cost pressures, infrastructure gaps and behavioural patterns – enabling detailed insight into how decarbonisation policies unfold in practice.

This operational intelligence is crucial, as it allows policy-makers to move beyond theoretical modelling and understand how regulatory decisions impact fleets navigating tight margins, driver shortages, cross-border compliance and evolving customer demands.

Finding common ground

The discussion revealed encouraging areas of alignment between policy-makers and industry representatives:

• A shared commitment to decarbonisation: There was broad consensus that emissions reductions must accelerate in road transport. Corporate fleets are central to achieving Europe’s climate targets, and there was an acknowledgement that fleet operators can act as catalysts for wider market transformation, provided that policy frameworks support investment certainty. However, there was also a shared understanding that heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) have proved to be a particularly hard-to-abate segment, with insufficient numbers of trucking firms so far feeling able to deploy zero- and low-emission technologies.
• ‍The power of data and digitalisation: Another strong point of agreement concerned the role of digital tools. Telematics systems, embedded reporting functions and sustainability dashboards are already enabling fleets to measure and reduce emissions more accurately, and are therefore fundamental to tracking real-world progress. In addition, as climate performance increasingly influences access to financing, public procurement eligibility and success in private tenders, credible and auditable data has become a competitive differentiator for CRT companies.

The barriers that still need to be overcome

Despite this shared ambition, participants were also open about the barriers to progress – with three primary challenges identified:

1. Policy incoherence remains a central concern. EU regulations often address vehicles, fuels, infrastructure and corporate reporting requirements through separate legislative files, each with its own timeline and technical criteria. This fragmentation can create mismatches – for example, setting ambitious zero-emission vehicle targets without ensuring corresponding infrastructure readiness. Such inconsistencies risk slowing uptake rather than accelerating it.
   

2. Infrastructure bottlenecks, particularly for heavy-duty transport. Grid constraints, high upfront investment costs and uneven rollout of charging and alternative fuel stations across EU Member States pose significant operational obstacles. Without a coordinated infrastructure strategy, even the most committed fleet operators face barriers to transiting away from fossil fuels.
3. The importance of technology neutrality. Matthias Maedge stressed that no single energy solution will deliver decarbonisation at scale. Electrification, HVO, bioLNG, hydrogen and other emerging solutions each have roles to play depending on geography and operational needs. A regulatory framework that over-prioritises one pathway at the expense of others may unintentionally constrain innovation and slow emissions reductions.

Why is this so important for fleet operators?

There are several reasons why this is so important for transport operators, particularly SMEs:

1. The need for investment certainty 
   Fleet renewal cycles span several years, often tied to financing structures and long-term service contracts. Sudden regulatory shifts or inconsistent implementation across Member States create hesitation. Operators need stable, predictable frameworks to justify investments in electric trucks, depot charging, alternative fuels or digital reporting tools. Policy clarity reduces risk – and reduced risk accelerates investment.‍
2. Diversified energy strategies will define the transition
   The debate reinforced that decarbonisation cannot follow a single linear pathway. Many fleets are already adopting mixed strategies: integrating electric vehicles for urban routes, using HVO as a readily deployable solution for existing diesel fleets and exploring bioLNG for long-haul transport.
   Decision-making is driven not only by emissions targets but also by the total cost of ownership (TCO), infrastructure availability and service continuity. Successful policy must also reflect this complexity.
3. Data as a competitive asset
   As sustainability criteria increasingly shape market access, with financial institutions, public authorities and large corporate clients embedding environmental performance into procurement frameworks, the ability to demonstrate verified emissions reductions has become commercially valuable for CRT companies.
   Fleet operators that can provide transparent, standardised emissions data supported by digital fleet card solutions will be better positioned and can thrive in a low-carbon economy.

Bridging climate ambition and commercial viability

The dialogue in Brussels highlighted a fundamental truth: Europe’s decarbonisation goals will only be achievable if political ambition is matched by operational feasibility.

Legislative scrutiny of the Automotive Package will intensify in both the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) and the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN). Industry engagement during this phase will be critical. Policy-makers cannot adopt effective legislation unless they understand the technical constraints, investment timelines and regional disparities. At the same time, industry must continue to demonstrate its constructive commitment to reducing emissions.

FCE’s debate was an important step towards finding a constructive middle ground, helping to ensure that regulatory frameworks are evidence-based, consistent and firmly aligned with the realities of Europe’s road transport industry.

Eurowag’s commitment

For Eurowag, participation in this forum reflected a broader strategic commitment: supporting fleets through the transition to a low-carbon and digital future. This involves not only providing integrated payment and mobility solutions, but also advocating for policy frameworks that are coherent, technology-neutral and practically implementable by the entire sector. 

Decarbonising road transport is not a theoretical exercise. It’s happening daily – in depots, along motorways, at charging hubs and in operations centres, where fleet managers are battling to balance costs, compliance and customer expectations.

Our message to the MEPs in Brussels was clear: ambition is essential. Yet only by pairing ambition with a grounded understanding of real-world operations can Europe create a transport sector that is truly sustainable – both environmentally and economically.

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