Project: Sino-German Cooperation on Decarbonising Freight Transport (CDFT)

In August 2026, the project team, together with the German Environment Agency (UBA), conducted a study visit to Shenzhen to examine approaches to decarbonising road freight. The visit focused on electric heavy-duty trucks, zero-emission freight corridors and autonomous vehicles in urban delivery. Site visits and exchanges with local stakeholders covered electric-truck deployment, corridor planning and autonomous delivery vehicles operated by Neolix. Discussions addressed policy frameworks, charging and battery-swapping infrastructure, grid integration and commercially viable business models. The visit generated insights into opportunities and challenges for scaling up low-carbon freight solutions and supported Sino-German knowledge exchange on freight decarbonisation.

The first China–Germany Dialogue on Commercial Vehicle Charging Infrastructure convened on 13 November 2025 in Beijing. Nearly 20 experts and representatives from research institutions, energy

Decarbonising heavy-duty freight transport is widely recognised by policymakers, industry representatives, and researchers as a prerequisite for achieving national climate targets and advancing sustainable transport

The CDFT project organised a study tour for China’s Ministry of Transport (MoT) to participate in the Transport and Climate Change Week (TCCW) and meet with German ministries. During the study tour, the Chinese delegation exchanged views with German experts on promoting new energy vehicles, strengthening charging infrastructure, and advancing green logistics corridors. The discussions further revealed that, despite differences in regulatory approaches, both countries face similar challenges in expanding charging networks and integrating renewable energy. The delegation gained valuable insights and inspiration for future cooperation and policy learning advancing sustainable and inclusive mobility.

How can cities decarbonise freight transport while keeping deliveries efficient? As part of the CDFT project, the project team visited Suzhou in May 2025 to explore potential solutions. In meetings with the Suzhou Transport Bureau, local logistics companies, and the tech firm Zelos, discussions focused on green freight policies, unmanned delivery systems, and integrating clean vehicle fleets. The team also visited Taicang Port to observe intermodal freight operations. A key outcome: selecting a 240 km freight corridor for a case study to pilot zero-emission trucks and advance low-carbon logistics across the Yangtze River Delta.