In this episode, we sit down with Samuel Barendregt from the Smart Freight Centre, a global nonprofit working at the forefront of zero-emission freight. 

Freight is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize — but things are starting to move. Battery-electric trucks are entering the market, charging infrastructure is evolving, and new collaborative models are emerging to bridge the gap between ambition and execution. 

So what will it actually take to scale zero-emission freight? 

🚀 What we cover 

• Why battery-electric trucks are emerging as the leading solution for zero-emission road freight 
• The critical role of charging infrastructure — and why depot charging dominates today 
• The rise of shared charging hubs and semi-public depot infrastructure 
• The importance of megawatt charging systems (MCS) for long-haul trucking 
• Why collaboration across the ecosystem is essential to unlock scale 
• The current state of pilot projects vs. real deployment 
• Why the biggest gap today is not technology — but knowledge and coordination 

🔑 Key insights 

• Depot charging is king: the majority of truck charging happens at depots due to cost and operational control 
• Shared infrastructure is emerging: fleets are beginning to collaborate on semi-public charging to improve utilization 
• Battery-electric trucks are leading the transition, with other technologies playing more limited roles 
• The industry is still in an early stage, especially when it comes to advanced solutions like MCS and V2G 
• Learning and collaboration today = competitive advantage tomorrow 

🌍 About Smart Freight Centre 

A global nonprofit focused on reducing emissions in the freight sector. 

They work with major companies like Amazon, IKEA, DHL, and LEGO to: 

• Track and report emissions 
• Enable collaborative decarbonization projects 
• Accelerate the adoption of zero-emission technologies 

Their mission: align the freight sector with 1.5°C climate targets. 

🔗 Links & resources 

• Smart Freight Centre
• Connect with Samuel Barendregt
• On-Demand Webinar: Solving the Grid Control Bottleneck in Germany

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