From sustainable toward ‘city-friendly’ logistics: Using light electric freight vehicles in zero-emission zones

As cities introduce stricter CO 2 regulations on urban transport, the logistics sector is rapidly adopting electric freight vehicles. While sustainable logistics is often framed as a matter of technical optimization, this paper highlights how emission-free last-mile operations are reshaping urban space and mobility. Focusing on the use of light electric freight vehicles (LEFVs) in the Netherlands, we examine how these vehicles interact with the spatial constraints of city centers, increasingly designated as Zero-Emission Zones. Drawing on 12 expert interviews at the Netherlands' largest logistics provider, we analyze how sustainability goals are interpreted and operationalized in practice, leading to infrastructural and procedural adjustments to meet diverse expectations from both the market and public authorities. While existing research tends to emphasize environmental and economic indicators of LEFV deployment, our findings foreground the socio-spatial dimensions, including its potential to ease traffic congestion and improve flows for cyclists and pedestrians. However, the demand for space to park, charge, and load LEFVs near city centers complicates their contribution to sustainable urban environment, despite being emission-free. By integrating insights from mobilities studies, logistical geographies, and urban planning literature, this study identifies the regulatory and spatial barriers that must be addressed to move beyond electrification toward “city-friendly” logistics. We conclude by arguing that logistics flows should be treated not only as operational or technological matters, but as critical components in the spatial planning and governance to support a broader transition toward sustainable urban mobility. • Light electric freight vehicles (LEFVs) used in zero-emission zones reconfigure the space and mobilities of city centers. • Integrating LEFVs can ease traffic congestion and improve flows for cyclists and pedestrians. • Urban logistics operations play a critical role in enabling a broader transition toward sustainable urban mobility.