Shift2Zero celebrates its second General Assembly in Padova, Italy

Shift2Zero partners met in Padova, Italy, from March 17–18 to share the latest developments as the project moves into the critical prototyping phase. Discussions focused on modular cargo bodies, advanced geofencing for smart city access, and innovative solutions for the dual transport of people and freight. These sessions ensure that our vehicle concepts address the day-to-day challenges of urban delivery and better meet logistics and end-user demands.

The second General Assembly was held at the facilities of Alkè Electric Vehicles and featured live electric vehicle demos and tests of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) tools developed by RWTH Aachen University (IKA). These tools allowed partners to interact with and experience full-scale virtual vehicle concepts in real-time. The partners also visited Gruber Logistics to discuss how zero-emission prototypes can be integrated into large-scale operations.

A key part of the meeting was dedicated to the planned real-life trials. Through hands-on workshops, the consortium defined the specific scenarios and requirements for each of the six pilot sites in Belgium, Greece, Italy, Norway, and Poland. Our goal is to transition goods from heavy trucks to smaller, smarter electric vehicles to enhance operational efficiency, reclaim urban space for people, and create a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Partners also addressed practical challenges, including pilot-specific risks, freight flow analysis, and the logistics of transporting vehicles between European test sites.

Coordinated by the Eurecat Technology Centre, Shift2Zero brings together 30 partners across 10 European countries to develop mission-specific, zero-emission vehicles. By combining innovative design with real-world testing, we are accelerating the adoption of zero-emission transport solutions and a more sustainable future for urban mobility.