Electric trucks, vans, and buses: Europe is accelerating, but diesel still holds strong
Electric trucks, vans, and buses: zero-emission vehicles are also making progress in European commercial transportation. According to the latest ACEA data, in 2026 registrations of electric trucks increased by +49.8%, light commercial vehicles by +38.2%, and battery-powered buses by +37.6%. Diesel, however, remains strong. Italy lags significantly in heavy transportation but leads in electric buses.
The European association of automobile manufacturers depicts a transition in progress, but one that is far from uniform. Diesel continues to dominate the commercial vehicle market, though with varying dynamics across different categories.
Trucks, vans, and buses: Northern Europe drives sales
Between January and September 2026, 245,079 new trucks were registered in the European Union. Of these, 12,873 were rechargeable electric trucks, representing an annual growth rate of nearly 50%.
The distribution is concentrated mainly in three countries: Germany, France, and the Netherlands together account for 74% of European registrations. However, when looking at the proportion of electric trucks in total new registrations, the picture changes. The Netherlands has a high rate of 20.2%, Germany at 9.5%, and France at 5.3%. At the top of the list are Nordic countries such as Sweden (18.4%) and Denmark (16.5%).
Electric vans account for 14.1%, but diesel still holds a large advantage
In the segment of light commercial vehicles, the growth of electric models is equally significant, although traditional engines still hold a very dominant position (78%).
In the first 9 months of the year, 1,073,427 new vans were registered in the European Union, roughly on par with 2025 levels. Electric models saw a 38.2% increase, reaching a market share of 14.1%, up from 10.2% a year earlier.
Diesel remains the overwhelmingly preferred choice among professional operators, accounting for 78.1% of sales.
France is the leading European market for electric vans (+33.3%), but the Netherlands still shows the highest penetration rate. According to ACEA, 84.3% of new light commercial vehicles registered in that country are electric.
Electric buses: Italy exceeds European averages
However, it is in public transportation where electrification has achieved the most significant results. In the first nine months of 2026, electric buses accounted for 26.4% of new registrations in Europe, compared to 22.1% during the same period in 2025.
Diesel still holds the majority of the market at 58.4%, but the gap with electric buses is significantly smaller than that seen in trucks and vans.
Italy stands out in this sector. Registrations of electric buses have increased by 116.2%, reaching 1,970 units. Our country thus accounts for 22.8% of European electric vehicle registrations, with its market share rising to 36.9%, up from 22.9% a year ago.
… but struggles with trucks and vans
The situation in our country is quite unique, as while it is advancing rapidly in electrifying buses, it still faces difficulties in doing the same with trucks and vans. Shares of 1.2% and 6% in their respective markets indicate a delay that cannot be masked by the overall growth of the European market.
The data on heavy transport is emblematic: in Italy, in the first nine months of 2026, registrations of electric trucks dropped by 47.7%, settling at just 260 units.
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