October 2025 Newsletter

Dear HVTT Forum subscribers,

Welcome to this autumn edition of the HVTT newsletter from Europe. In this issue I would like to report on two developments, from Germany and the Netherlands, which illustrate how high capacity vehicles -specifically A-double-  are moving very slowly yet steadily from pilot ideas to practical, interoperable systems — and how technology, regulation, and logistics are coming together in this transformation.

EcoDuo pilot successfully completed in Germany

After a year of intensive practical testing between Wolfsburg, Lehrte, and Barcelona, the EcoDuo pilot project in Germany has been successfully completed. The pilot, conducted under real-world logistics conditions, demonstrated significant potential for improving freight transport efficiency. The German EcoDuo combination (A-Double) consists of a conventional tractor pulling two standard semi-trailers connected by a dolly, forming a 31.70 m vehicle combination with a gross weight of up to 40 tonnes—or 44 tonnes in combined road–rail transport. The maximal gross weight is primarily limited due to road infrastructure and bridges capacity in Germany. Both trailers can be directly loaded onto rail wagons without any modifications, making the system fully compatible with existing combined transport infrastructure. Only minor adjustments at terminals are required to facilitate coupling and uncoupling operations.

Given the relatively limited maximum permissible weight of the EcoDuo combination—compared, for example, to more than 70-tonne limits common in Scandinavia—the entire vehicle can be operated with a standard 4×2 tractor, which remains the dominant hauling unit in the EU. This makes the concept particularly attractive for volume-based transport, as it eliminates the need for investment in more powerful and expensive tractors.

The next step, proposed by the German Association of the Automotive Industry, is to introduce a new vehicle category—“Type 6”—that would allow combinations of up to 32 metres in length to enter regular operation. This will require amendments to the existing regulations on exemptions for oversized vehicles and combinations, and will involve close coordination among manufacturers, regulators, and infrastructure operators. It is envisaged that EcoDuo operations will be permitted on a specifically designated part of the infrastructure network, designed to accommodate both the manoeuvrability and spatial requirements of these combinations. This network will also include combined transport terminals and will be defined as a subset of the existing positive infrastructure network for EMS-1 vehicles in Germany.

The Super EcoCombi soon to roll on Dutch roads

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, the delay surrounding the pilot project has grown almost as long as the vehicle itself — but it now appears that a trial with the Super Eco Combi (SEC, also the A-double) will finally get rolling later this year, nearly five years after the first unsuccessful attempts were suspended by the national vehicle approval authority. If everything goes according to plan, the first Super Eco Combi will hit Dutch roads in December 2025. This will be a pre-test, involving a single vehicle combination operating on a fixed route. The aim is to study how the SEC behaves in traffic and how other road users perceive and respond to it. In contrast to the German A-double using standard equipment and stressing the compatibility with combined transport, the Dutch pre-test combination will consist of a 6×2 tractor with a steered axle, a 3-axle trailer with lift and steering axles, a 2-axle dolly with a trailing axle, and a rigid 3-axle rear trailer.

Before approval, the vehicle combination will undergo an extensive inspection by the Dutch vehicle authority in the coming weeks. The tests are expected to succeed this time, thanks to a clearly defined set of safety requirements — including a maximum length of 32 metres, a gross weight of up to 72 tonnes, a blind-spot information system, and minimum standards for acceleration and visibility.

The pre-test itself will last for about a month, during which the SEC will operate both loaded and unloaded, at different times and under various traffic and weather conditions. The vehicle will be equipped with 360-degree cameras to monitor operational safety as well as the reactions and acceptance of other road users. For comparison, a standard tractor–semi-trailer combination will also be included in the study. If the results of the pre-test are positive, a broader pilot involving five to ten combinations on multiple routes will follow in 2026. This project forms part of the Multi-Year Programme for Truck Toll Reinvestment (2026–2030) and will be funded from the revenues of the upcoming truck toll, scheduled to begin on 1 July 2026.

When comparing the Dutch and German approaches, several differences become apparent. While the German concept emphasises the use of standard equipment — a 4×2 tractor with standard semi-trailers — the Dutch approach opts for a 6×2 tractor combined with a special first semi-trailer featuring steerable and liftable axles. The reason is clear: the Dutch combination allows for nearly up to 30 tonnes more payload than the German one, and using a 4×2 tractor under such loading conditions would not provide sufficient traction for acceleration without permanent overloading of the drive axle. Furthermore, the manoeuvrability requirements differ between the two countries.

To conclude, although the Netherlands and Germany are immediate neighbours, their approaches to the Super Eco Combi and EcoDuo concept differ significantly. Looking ahead to the joint HVTT Forum and ISWIM conference in Ljubljana, where hopefully we will see contributions from both countries on these developments.

As for the weather, autumn has settled in across the Netherlands. Shorter days, misty mornings, and a crisp North Sea wind mark the change of season. After a mild September, October brings significantly more rain and gloomy evenings, but time to time we get nice clear day —  just perfect for a waterproof jacket 🙂

With best regards,

Karel Kural

Vice President, Europe