In the first half of 2025, 98 percent of the liquefied gas sold at German LNG filling stations came from renewable sources. Thus, liquefied biogas or bio-LNG as a climate-friendly variant has almost completely displaced fossil LNG in heavy-duty transport, says the Berlin association Die Gas- und Wasserstoffwirtschaft. Nevertheless, biofuel has received little attention from policymakers and is under-promoted, which stands in the way of switching entire fleets. This is what the association's board member Dr. Timm Kehler states, who clarifies the situation:
"Bio-LNG saves emissions – but toll remains as high as with diesel trucks. This is how politics lets functioning solutions fall by the wayside."
At least over 190 filling stations in Germany keep Bio-LNG widely available - but "despite growing infrastructure and substantial greenhouse gas savings, the success is in danger," says the press release. Reason: the inadequate political framework conditions. At the same time, the existing potentials are not being fully exploited. Calls are now for toll reductions and funding measures to help biofuel achieve a breakthrough.
Put on a level playing field with
other climate-neutral propulsion systems
Between January and June 2025, 85,917 tonnes of LNG were sold. A clearly stagnant figure, compared with around 90,000 tonnes sold in the same period the year before. By using the fuel, in the first six months of the current year, according to the association, more than 230,000 tonnes CO2-equivalents could be saved compared with diesel. Yet despite these amounts, the fuel variant receives no reliable framework conditions promised by politics. Dr. Kehler:
"The freight transport sector is ready to invest in sustainable propulsion systems - but it needs planning certainty and finally equal treatment with other climate-neutral propulsion systems. Politics must not stand by any longer as functioning, climate-friendly solutions with local value creation are being slowed down."
Unfair: Bio-LNG trucks are treated the same as diesel trucks
Board member Dr. Timm Kehler criticizes especially the current toll regulation, according to which Bio-LNG trucks despite the high CO2 savings potential pay the same toll as diesel vehicles:
"It is hardly justifiable that Bio-LNG trucks, despite almost emission-free operation, pay the same toll as
fossil diesel vehicles. Anyone who means the climate-friendly transition in heavy goods transport seriously must finally create fair conditions."
As effective measures, the association cites targeted toll reductions or exemptions for low-emission drives as well as the introduction of tax relief for biofuels, just as they are already granted to battery-electric vehicles - "a central hurdle for investment decisions in the logistics industry," it says.
Technology openness required
At European level, the industry association, which unites 130 companies in the gas and hydrogen economy as members or partners, calls for Bio-LNG to be adequately considered in the CO2 fleet-wide limits, which so far have been "one-sidedly oriented toward battery- and hydrogen-electric drives":
"The contribution of renewable gaseous fuels such as Bio-LNG to emissions reduction is not adequately reflected in the guidelines."
Because of this imbalance, technology-open regulation is necessary to even be able to reflect the actual CO2 footprint in vehicle assessment.
Enable market ramp-up
Moreover, it says the greenhouse gas reduction rate should be "developed more ambitiously" and a long-term funding perspective for biofuels beyond 2030 should
be created. Dr. Kehler makes clear:
"We are not talking about synthetic fuels, whose energy balance is repeatedly discussed - we are talking about thousands of tonnes of real existing products of German farmers and a clear value creation in rural areas."
According to Kehler, a clear political course correction is necessary to fully exploit the potential of this propulsion form in heavy-duty transport. Specifically, a more ambitious GHG quota beyond 2030 is proposed, coupled with a long-term moderate funding frame that, through planning certainty, could encourage investments and promote market ramp-up. Kehler:
"Whoever ignores Bio-LNG is simply neglecting a functioning climate protection solution for the transport sector. In addition, Bio-LNG is produced almost exclusively by German producers in rural areas - in light of the ambitious climate targets and the clear desire for more energy independence we should not ignore this solution for heavy-duty transport."
The industry has indeed delivered - but politics has not reacted accordingly. Those who truly mean business with climate targets and resilience in the heavy-duty transport sector must act now, the release
