Background and objectives

In line with Switzerland’s Climate and Innovation Act (KlG), in force since 1 January 2025, the road transport sector is required to significantly cut its greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050. Heavy-duty vehicles currently account for about 13 % of the country’s total emissions.

To address this challenge, the Swiss Commercial Vehicle Association (ASTAG), together with EBP Switzerland, has been commissioned by the Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) to implement the new “E-Truck Charging Infrastructure” industry programme. This initiative is a cornerstone of the federal roadmap for zero-emission heavy-duty transport.

Programme overview

• Budget: CHF 20 million for the period 2026–2030.
• Funding level: Up to 40 % of eligible costs can be covered, including planning, network connection, cabling, and charging equipment.
• Eligible applicants:
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 250 employees.
  • Annual energy consumption limits: ≤ 5 GWh for heat, ≤ 500 MWh for electricity.
  • The project must directly enable the replacement of diesel trucks with battery-electric vehicles.
• Timeline:
  • Applications open 1 January 2026, close 31 December 2027.
  • Projects must be completed by 31 May 2030.
• Scope: Funding applies to non-public or semi-public depot charging infrastructure; publicly accessible stations are not eligible.
• Selection procedure: Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.

Electrification of the Swiss truck market

According to EAFO data, the adoption of battery-electric trucks (BEVs) in Switzerland has accelerated sharply since 2021. Annual registrations have more than doubled year-on-year, with 2024 reaching over 1,500 newly registered zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, compared to fewer than 100 units in 2020.

• BEVs dominate the alternative powertrain mix, representing over 90 % of new zero-emission truck registrations in 2025 YTD.
• Plug-in hybrid and hydrogen trucks remain marginal, accounting for less than 5 % combined.
• The overall market share of BEV trucks within total HDV registrations has reached nearly 18 % in 2025 YTD, up from only 2 % in 2021.

This exponential growth reflects increasing model availability, declining total cost of ownership, and the strengthening of national and regional support schemes, including targeted infrastructure funding.

Swiss HDV charging infrastructure status

Switzerland is one of the frontrunners in the deployment of dedicated heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) recharging pools, according to EAFO’s infrastructure database (status: October 2025).

A total of 24 operational HDV-dedicated recharging locations are recorded, distributed along key logistics and motorway corridors such as the Gotthard axis, Zurich–Basel corridor, and Lake Geneva region.

Key figures:

• Total charging pools: 24
• Average charging power per site: ~1 100 kW
• Dominant operators: GOFAST (≈ 70 % of the network) and Fastned
• Typical configuration: 2–4 high-power chargers per location, mostly in mixed-use areas accessible to both passenger and freight vehicles.

Examples of flagship sites include:

• GOFAST Zürich–Airport (Kloten): 4 × 300 kW chargers, 1.6 MW total capacity.
• GOFAST Quinto (Ticino): 4 × 385 kW units
• Fastned Andelfingen: 3 chargers, 1.2 MW total.
• Sargans driv-e Ladepark: 1 × 350 kW charger, integrated with light-duty infrastructure.

The steady expansion of such recharging hubs ensures that Swiss HDV electrification is supported by corridor coverage, providing essential reliability for logistics operators transitioning to e-trucks.

Challenges and opportunities

Challenges:

• High upfront costs for heavy-duty chargers and grid connections remain a barrier even with partial public funding.
• Grid capacity and permitting can slow project implementation, especially in industrial zones.
• Investment certainty will depend on predictable electricity prices and stable regulatory conditions.

Opportunities:

• The programme supports broader participation in the transition, ensuring smaller operators are not left behind in the electrification process.
• Early adopters among SMEs could benefit from lower operating costs and preferential access to low-emission freight contracts.
• The initiative can create synergies with emerging megawatt-charging technologies, preparing depots for future interoperability with long-haul e-trucks.

Outlook

Switzerland’s targeted support for e-truck charging infrastructure marks a major step towards carbon-neutral road freight. By providing financial and technical assistance to smaller firms, the country aims to ensure that the decarbonisation of logistics is inclusive and economically viable.

Continuous monitoring will determine how effectively the scheme accelerates the transition to battery-electric trucks, the pace of infrastructure roll-out, and the overall impact on freight emissions. The Swiss experience may offer valuable insights for other European countries developing similar national programmes.

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.