Large-scale demonstration of Heavy-Duty Battery Electric Vehicles (HD BEV) towards long-haul logistics operations (2ZERO Partnership)

This summary focuses on a forthcoming Horizon Europe funding opportunity targeting the large-scale demonstration of Heavy-Duty Battery Electric Vehicles (HD BEV) for long-haul logistics operations, under the call identified as HORIZON-CL5. The call opens on December 18, 2025, and has a submission deadline of April 14, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. The total budget for this call is €68,000,000, allowing for two expected grants of €34,000,000 each. Eligible applicants include a wide range of stakeholders from the transport and logistics sectors, including fleet operators, logistics companies, SMEs, technology providers, charging infrastructure developers, energy companies, universities, and public authorities. Participation requires a consortium approach, reflecting the need for diverse expertise and resources to execute large-scale demonstrations effectively. Geographic eligibility extends across EU Member States and Associated Countries, with projects needed to demonstrate across a minimum of four different Member States or Associated Countries focused on at least four European corridor segments. The funding is structured as a grant under the Horizon Innovation Actions mechanism, offering non-repayable assistance specifically towards innovation and research activities. This involves direct monetary support to cover eligible costs related to project implementation, including infrastructure development and personnel expenses. The projects aim to facilitate the introduction of HD BEVs in logistics by addressing technological barriers, digital integration, user awareness, and infrastructure gaps. The implementation is expected to occur over a period exceeding 12 months, focusing on real-world scenarios where new generation HD BEVs are tested in logistics operations along extended routes, typically 600 kilometers or more. Projects must work to eliminate barriers to HD-BEV deployment and adapt findings to European regulatory environments, enhancing the operational frameworks necessary for integrating zero-emission technologies. Typical outputs include the development of AI-driven digital tools, validation of business models for charging infrastructures, and creation of data-sharing ecosystems that connect operators with suppliers and authorities, contributing to an efficient transport logistics network. The Horizon Europe initiative underlines the necessity of fostering synergies with existing infrastructures and policies to promote an eco-friendly transition in transportation, thereby supporting broader EU goals around climate neutrality and emissions reductions. The application process involves a single-stage submission, and while explicit co-funding is not mandatory, practical co-funding mechanisms for cover remaining expenses are encouraged. The overall goal is to stimulate the market deployment of sustainable heavy-duty transport solutions and ensure compliance with EU climate targets while bolstering the competitive edge of European industry in clean vehicle technology.

This is a Horizon Europe call for proposals under the MOBILITY (HORIZON-CL5-2026-05) program, focusing on large-scale demonstrations of Heavy-Duty Battery Electric Vehicles (HD BEV) towards long-haul logistics operations, as part of the 2ZERO Partnership. The call aims to accelerate the integration of HD-BEVs into logistics fleets to meet European greenhouse gas and air pollutant emission reduction targets. The call is structured around several topics with varying budgets and action types, all with a single-stage submission process, an opening date of December 18, 2025, and a deadline of April 14, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of the projects include:Increased use of HD-BEVs in logistics operations, efficient integration of HD-BEVs along European corridor segments, and a reinforced ecosystem connecting fleet operators, charge providers, and road authorities.

The scope of the call involves addressing barriers to HD-BEV deployment, such as limitations in vehicle technology, digital tools, user awareness, energy availability, charging infrastructure (including depot charging and Megawatt Charging Systems MCS), and permit processes.

Proposed actions should include:Large-scale demonstrations of HD-BEVs equipped with MCS, covering at least four European corridor segments and involving SMEs and microenterprises, focusing on long-haul operations (average 600km operations) over twelve months. Identification and addressing of barriers to HD-BEV deployment, considering battery degradation and weather conditions. Development and integration of digital tools with AI, access to data sets, and operational logistics models. Ensuring synergies with existing charging infrastructure and assessing charging methods and business models. Developing a competition-compliant ecosystem for data sharing for HD-BEV fleet management, including data pooling and publication of open and FAIR data. Defining and testing use cases for HD-BEV fleets in long-distance logistics operations. Establishing synergies with previous projects and related forums. Mapping and assessing policies and legislation to support an affordable transition to HD-BEV.

The call specifies several general conditions related to admissibility, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, evaluation and award processes, and legal and financial setup of grants. It also mentions specific conditions, application and evaluation forms, model grant agreements, and additional documents such as the Horizon Europe Work Programme, Programme Guide, Framework Programme, and EU Financial Regulation.

The budget overview lists the following topics:

HORIZON-CL5:HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) with a budget of €68,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants, each around €34,000,000.

HORIZON-CL5-2026-05-D5-02:HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) with a budget of €16,000,000 and an indicative number of 1 grant, around €16,000,000.

HORIZON-CL5-2026-05-D5-07:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) with a budget of €10,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants, each around €5,000,000.

HORIZON-CL5-2026-05-D5-11:HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) with a budget of €21,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants, each around €10,500,000.

HORIZON-CL5-2026-05-D5-12:HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) with a budget of €21,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants, each around €10,500,000.

HORIZON-CL5-2026-05-D5-13:HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) with a budget of €2,000,000 and an indicative number of 1 grant, around €2,000,000.

The call encourages partner searches and provides links to relevant support resources, including the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points, Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, and CEN-CENELEC/ETSI Research Helpdesks.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call is about promoting the use of electric heavy-duty vehicles in long-distance freight transport. It aims to fund projects that demonstrate how these vehicles can be integrated into logistics operations, address the challenges that are preventing their widespread adoption, and create a supportive ecosystem for their use. The projects should involve real-world demonstrations, the development of digital tools, and the analysis of policies and regulations. The ultimate goal is to help Europe meet its emission reduction targets by making zero-emission freight transport a reality.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but the call targets transport operators, including SMEs and microenterprises, as well as other entities that can contribute to the demonstration and integration of Heavy Duty Battery Electric Vehicles (HD-BEV) in logistics operations. This suggests that eligible applicants could include startups, SMEs, large enterprises, research institutes, and potentially public-private partnerships.

Funding Type:The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) grant, which is budget-based. There are also HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA).

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity appears to favor a consortium approach, as it involves large-scale demonstrations and ecosystem development, suggesting the need for multiple partners with diverse expertise. The call explicitly mentions the involvement of several transport operators, SMEs, and microenterprises, as well as charge providers and road authorities, implying a consortium structure.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility includes Member States (MS) and/or Associated Countries (AC). 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.

Target Sector:The program targets the transport sector, specifically focusing on zero-emission road transport, heavy-duty battery electric vehicles (HD-BEV), logistics, and related technologies such as digital tools, AI, and charging infrastructure. It also touches upon energy, climate, and environmental aspects.

Mentioned Countries:The call mentions Member States (MS) and Associated Countries (AC) of the European Union. No specific countries are named, but the demonstrations must cover at least four European corridors’ segments in at least four Member States and/or Associated Countries. China is mentioned as a country that, if it controls an entity established in an eligible country, would make that entity ineligible.

Project Stage:The expected maturity of the project is at the demonstration and validation stage, with a focus on large-scale demonstrations of market-ready and new generation HD-BEVs in real-world logistics operations.

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic. For example, HORIZON-CL5 has a budget of €68,000,000 with an indicative contribution of around €34,000,000 per grant, while HORIZON-CL5-2026-05-D5-13 has a budget of €2,000,000 with an indicative contribution of around €2,000,000.

Application Type:The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants to support their projects. The funding can cover costs related to demonstrations, technology development, infrastructure deployment (specifically depot charging), and ecosystem development.

Application Stages:The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates:The success rates are not explicitly stated, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight. For instance, HORIZON-CL5 aims to award 2 grants out of a total budget of €68,000,000.

Co-funding Requirement:The information does not explicitly state a co-funding requirement.

Summary:This Horizon Europe call, under the MOBILITY pillar, focuses on large-scale demonstrations of Heavy-Duty Battery Electric Vehicles (HD-BEV) for long-haul logistics operations, aligning with the 2ZERO Partnership goals. The call aims to accelerate the integration of zero-emission vehicles in freight transport by addressing barriers related to technology, infrastructure, digital tools, and stakeholder engagement. It seeks to fund projects that perform large-scale demonstrations across multiple European corridors, involving various transport operators, including SMEs. The projects should develop digital tools, assess charging methods, and create data-sharing ecosystems. The call also encourages synergies with existing initiatives and aims to identify policy and regulatory recommendations to support the transition to HD-BEVs. The funding is provided through Horizon Innovation Actions (IA), Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), with varying budgets and indicative grant amounts. The application process is a single-stage open call, and consortia are expected, involving a diverse range of stakeholders. The overall goal is to contribute to European targets for reducing greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions in the transport sector.