AFIR rules for road transport: what to do before 2030 with HVO and B100
While AFIR-mandated charging and refuelling points are still years away, HVO (drop-in) and B100 (conditional) let fleets cut emissions now.
What AFIR requires from road transport
AFIR is the EU regulation that sets binding deployment targets for alternative fuel infrastructure: high-power electric charging points and hydrogen refuelling stations along the trans-European road network, with progressive milestones running through 2030.
For fleet directors, this text is significant because it sets an official timetable for the energy transition of road transport. But a regulatory timetable for infrastructure is not an operational timetable for companies: decarbonisation expectations are already here, driven by shippers, CSRD reporting and customer requirements.
The real question is not whether AFIR will reshape the road transport energy landscape, but how a company can cut emissions during the years while that infrastructure is still incomplete.
Why waiting for AFIR infrastructure is a risk
Rolling out high-power charging points for heavy trucks and hydrogen refuelling stations requires civil works, high-voltage grid connections and administrative permits. These steps structurally take several years, with timelines that vary widely by grid operator and region.
Uneven geographic coverage
Major trans-European corridors will be equipped first, but secondary zones, regional logistics hubs and less-travelled cross-border routes will remain under-served for a long time. A fleet operating outside the main corridors cannot base its decarbonisation strategy on a map of stations that does not yet exist.
Actual cost and downtime
Beyond the timeline, electric and hydrogen options for long-haul also require rethinking vehicles, charging or refuelling times, and route planning. These are structural investments, relevant in the medium term, but they do not address the urgency of cutting emissions this year.
Waiting for the AFIR network to mature before acting means postponing decarbonisation by several years, while regulatory and commercial requirements already apply today.
HVO and B100: two solutions, two different technical realities
Given this infrastructure delay, the liquid biofuels HVO and B100 make it possible to act immediately, using the existing diesel station network. But these two fuels are not equivalent and should never be treated as interchangeable: their standards, conditions of use and constraints differ significantly.
HVO: the true drop-in fuel
- EN 15940 standard, chemically close to fossil diesel.
- Usable with no engine modification, in existing stations and tanks.
- Blendable with diesel at any ratio, including 100%.
- GHG emission reductions of up to 90% (depending on the feedstock used and the calculation methodology under the RED II / RED III directives).
B100: an effective solution, under conditions
- EN 14214 standard (FAME), distinct from the HVO standard.
- Not a universal drop-in fuel: requires strict compatibility verification with the vehicle manufacturer.
- May require technical adaptations (seals, hoses, filters) depending on the vehicle model and year.
- Best suited to dedicated, homogeneous fleets, with adapted maintenance follow-up.
In short, HVO offers an immediate, technically risk-free switch for a mixed fleet, while B100 can be a strong option but only where manufacturer compatibility has been formally confirmed.
How to bring HVO and B100 into your fleet
The first step is to map the fleet by engine type, age and manufacturer warranty, to separate vehicles eligible for B100 from those that should stick with HVO or standard diesel. This mapping avoids any unpleasant surprise on warranty or maintenance.
The second step is to secure a reliable supply of EN 15940-compliant HVO, working with suppliers able to trace feedstock origin and the associated emission reduction rate. This is what makes the effort usable in CSRD reporting or with a shipper.
Finally, the shift should be rolled out progressively, starting with the fleet segments where the immediate decarbonisation gain will be most visible, before extending the approach and, in parallel, planning an electric or hydrogen strategy as AFIR infrastructure actually comes online.
Get ahead of AFIR instead of reacting to it
AFIR will eventually reshape the road transport energy landscape, but its rollout timeline should not dictate a company's decarbonisation pace. By combining HVO for an immediate, risk-free switch with B100 where manufacturer compatibility allows, carriers can cut emissions now while calmly preparing for what comes next.
Heeding helps transport directors and fleet managers understand their regulatory obligations and identify the right combination of sustainable fuels for their fleet. Understand your AFIR requirements: request your Flash Audit.
