The New Enova Program

The Enova program is designed to support projects that contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, development of energy and climate technology, and a transition towards a more renewable energy system.

The newly introduced Enova program expands its reach to include vehicles over 4.25 tons, supporting both hydrogen and electric-powered vehicles with subsidies covering up to 60% of the additional costs involved in acquiring such a vehicle.

This represents an incremental increase from the prior program, which offered a 40% kickback for large enterprises and a 50% kickback for small and medium-sized businesses on the additional costs.

The critical question now is whether these enhanced subsidies are sufficient to bridge the gap, even with the additional 10% increase in support.

While ASKO is on track to convert its fleet entirely to zero-emission vehicles by 2026, bolstered by its strong financial resources, the path for smaller companies, with more limited budgets, remains uncertain.

Are we missing the forest for the trees?

The public discussion centers on the necessity of making the shift to more sustainable alternatives both technically and financially achievable for smaller players in the industry.

However, from an objective perspective, we must question whether we are truly on the path to meeting our environmental targets, or if our focus is too narrowly placed on a single type of solution.

Should the focus be solely on adopting electric, hydrogen or biogas vehicles in the transport sector?

Or, does it exist other contributing solutions out there that help us reach these goals?

"By 2030, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 90% compared to 2009, and by 52% compared to 2023."

This is how Oslo Municipality introduced its climate mission towards 2030, which was adopted by the city council in May 2020. Oslo aimed to become a city without greenhouse gas emissions, in accordance with the statutes of the Paris Agreement.

Road traffic with 47% of total emissions

Data from 2018 shows that 47% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Oslo in 2018 came from road traffic. Heavy vehicles alone accounted for 13%.

In EU, heavy vehicles generate more than 25% of road transport's greenhouse gas emissions, which corresponds to over 6% of the EU's total emissions. (Regjeringen.no, 2023)

Without further – and stricter – measures, the transport sector will not contribute sufficiently to the climate and emission targets for 2030 and 2050 according to the EU's climate plan.

The proposal is to reduce the average emission levels of newly produced heavy vehicles compared to the 2019 emission levels with:

  • 2025 – 15% reduction
  • 2030 – 45% reduction
  • 2035 – 65% reduction
  • 2040 – 90% reduction

Oslo Municipality wishes to drastically reduce emissions from vehicles, and has clearly stated that they will take the necessary steps to achieve the goal by 2030.

Within the next six years, all vans must be emission-free, and all heavy transport must either be emission-free or use sustainable, renewable energy.

Stick and not only the carrot

It has also been announced that tolls, parking restrictions, and limitations on driving opportunities will be adjusted to a "sufficient level" – in addition to which more specific measures are expected in the near future.

In Denmark, as of 1 January 2025, trucks of 12 tons and above are to pay road toll based on how much CO2 they emit. (Vejafgifter.dk, 2023) This kilometer driven pricing will on average cost of 1.2 DKK or EUR 0.16 cents.

It will ensure less wear, accidents, noise, air pollution, and contributions to less traffic congestion. But it will also increase costs for companies that have not invested in environmentally friendly transportation modes.

Despite the challenges associated with the transition to environmentally friendly modes of transportation, the lack of technology for long-haul and charging infrastructure, the state and municipality is clear that it expects transport companies to take the necessary steps.

– A significant contributor

The state and municipality's new, and upcoming, environmental requirements will have a major impact on the daily operations of transport companies. The Nasjonal Transportplan (NTP 2025 - 2036) is due this spring, and will pose new and concrete directives. Many companies have already started to take action.

Director of Planning and Distribution at Vectura AS, Inti Johan Castro is aware of the requirements and challenges facing the industry, and reports that they have already begun the transition towards a greener workday.

He shares that the transition has been made easier since the company started using Zendera:

– We face tough environmental requirements that we must eventually meet. We have already taken several steps and work every day towards greener distribution. Here, Zendera is a significant contributor that will help us comply with the environmental requirements we believe will be implemented in practice, for example, in parts of Oslo.

Zendera cannot assist with the transition from gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles to zero-emission friendly alternatives, but it can offer significant benefits when the other measures take effect.

By optimizing route planning, it will be possible to more effectively account for tolls and restrictions on driving opportunities. This results in faster, more efficient, and optimized driving routes that comply with environmental requirements – and lower costs.

The municipality and state facilitates

The transport companies are not left entirely on their own as they now take steps to join the green shift. Along with the municipality's climate goals, there are also several promises on how they will make the transition easier for the transport industry.

The climate strategy states that:

  • Oslo municipality shall facilitate the simultaneous transition to renewable fuels for transport operators, vehicle manufacturers, and energy station operators.
  • Contribute to the establishment of energy stations offering at least one renewable fuel, beyond charging and biodiesel. Seek regional cooperation on this.
  • Set requirements or establish measures that ensure existing gas stations increasingly offer renewable fuels.

By facilitating the establishment of more energy stations for renewable fuel, it will be easier to plan longer routes where using environmentally friendly vehicles is as efficient as using diesel- or gasoline-powered options.

Such measures are both desirable and necessary for the sustainability measures to be profitable for the transport industry, and not just something they do because they have to.

The state has taken the necessary steps to ensure a sustainable future. Now, it's up to the transport industry to follow suit.

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