In the transport industry, everyone talks about the energy transition. But between the speeches and the reality on the ground, there is often a gap. At Van Mieghem Logistics, we decided to test, adopt, and be honest about the maturity level of each solution.

Here is our feedback.

The 100% electric truck: operational results on the ground

We integrated two complementary electric vehicles into our fleet, each addressing a specific segment of our operations.

The Mercedes eActros 400 — our first electric truck, with a real-world range of 400 km — has now covered more than 175,000 km in real conditions. It has proven itself an excellent vehicle for urban and regional distribution: zero direct emissions, an electric refrigeration unit, and reliable performance on its operating routes.

The Mercedes eActros 600, in service for five and a half months, has already accumulated 55,000 km. A highly accomplished vehicle, with a range well suited to medium-to-long-haul routes: early results are very satisfying and confirm the relevance of this technology for a broader range of our flows.

One clear limitation remains: long-distance international transport still faces insufficient charging infrastructure across Europe, and charging times put pressure on schedules. The transition is moving forward, but the ecosystem still needs to keep pace.

HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil): the best compromise today

This is probably the most immediately scalable solution. Some of our vehicles already run on HVO, with a CO₂ emission reduction of up to 90% compared to conventional diesel. No engine modifications are needed, no infrastructure changes required. It is a smooth, effective transition that is fully compatible with our current European flows.

Two real constraints, however, limit its mass deployment: HVO is significantly more expensive than standard diesel, and its availability remains far more limited — not all filling stations carry it, and supply at scale is not guaranteed across all our routes. Without client co-financing or public incentives, the business case for a full fleet switch is difficult to sustain.

Eco-combis: more capacity, fewer trucks

Our two eco-combis each carry 53 pallets — the equivalent of three standard trailers in a single journey. Fewer vehicles on the road, a 30% reduction in CO₂ per tonne transported, and lower operational costs. The efficiency gains are clear.

The main obstacle is not operational: it is European Union legislation. Eco-combis remain subject to restrictive and partial authorisation in Europe, while our Dutch neighbours have long enabled wider deployment of these combinations. The ring road around Brussels remains off-limits, and the regulatory framework has barely evolved since the pilot phase launched in 2016.

A proven technology, held back by regulatory inertia.

Hydrogen: the long-distance zero-emission solution of the future

We are also testing a hydrogen-powered truck with a range of 400 km — a prototype operating at 350 bar, demonstrating the potential of this technology for long-haul, zero-emission transport.

The technology is promising, but its large-scale deployment remains premature: refuelling infrastructure is extremely limited across Belgium, and the technology itself is still at the prototype and operational validation stage. A solution to watch closely as the energy ecosystem matures.

Route optimisation through our TMS

Our in-house transport management system enables us to optimise routes and reduce empty kilometres systematically. Fewer unnecessary journeys means fewer emissions. It is not always visible, but the cumulative impact is significant.

Our conviction

There is no single miracle solution. The transition to greener transport is built on a combination of concrete decisions, tested in the field and adapted to each type of flow. At Van Mieghem Logistics, we move forward methodically, without greenwashing.