Spanish Freight Carriers in the Face of the Ecological Transition: Are Hybrids and Biofuels a Real Alternative?

The European Union has set the course: the decarbonization of transport is an essential pillar for meeting the goals of the Green Deal. However, on the ground, professionals in the freight transport sector in Spain are making practical decisions that, in many cases, deviate from the direct path to the pure electric vehicle. In the face of community strategies, a significant portion of carriers are opting for bridge technologies, such as hybrid vehicles and those adapted for biofuels, arguing that they offer a more viable balance between sustainability and operability in the short and medium term.

The qualities of hybrid trucks are particularly attractive for urban and last-mile transport. These vehicles combine a combustion engine with an electric one, allowing them to operate in zero-emission mode over short distances, ideal for accessing urban centers with increasing restrictions. Furthermore, they eliminate range anxiety, as the traditional engine acts as a backup. On social networks, many carriers praise this flexibility: “For our city delivery routes, the hybrid is perfect. We comply with emission regulations without depending on a charging infrastructure that is still insufficient,” comments a user on a professional forum.

On the other hand, biofuels (such as biodiesel or HVO) offer an undeniable logistical advantage: they leverage existing infrastructure. Adapting a diesel truck to run on biofuels requires a minimal investment compared to purchasing a new electric vehicle. This is crucial for a sector with tight economic margins. “We cannot amortize an electric truck over years if we don’t have the guarantee of being able to charge it as easily as we refuel now. Biofuel allows us to reduce our carbon footprint almost immediately,” reads another comment on LinkedIn.

However, this preference does not mean that these alternatives are without limitations. Hybrids, although more efficient, still emit CO2 when operating with their thermal engine, so their contribution to total decarbonization is limited. Biofuels, for their part, face the debate about the sustainability of their production and competition with food crops. Meanwhile, the pure electric vehicle, despite its advantages in zero emissions and lower maintenance costs, clashes with two major obstacles for long-distance transport: still insufficient range and a scarcity of ultra-fast charging points capable of serving trucks.

In conclusion, the choice of Spanish carriers for hybrids and biofuels is not a rejection of sustainability, but a pragmatic response to a transition they consider too abrupt if focused exclusively on electric. Their position reveals a gap between legislative ambition and the operational reality of transport. While the electric infrastructure matures, these intermediate technologies are emerging not as a whim, but as a necessary solution to keep the economy moving without giving up, right now, a significant reduction in emissions.