Zero-emission truck deployment behind targets, Calstart finds

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Updated Jan 23, 2025
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Despite major efforts from the Biden administration, zero-emission truck deployments across the country are behind schedule for a number of reasons, according to Calstart's latest market report.
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Deployment of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks has flatlined in the past 18 months while increasing for cargo vans, according to Calstart's just-released annual market update on the status of zero-emission truck (ZET) growth in the United States as of June 2024.

The report, titled Zeroing in on Zero-Emission Trucks, found that over 42,500 ZETs are on currently on American roads, an increase from 30,030 at the end of 2023. However, 88 percent (11,900 vehicles) of those deployments are cargo vans, such as the Rivian-built Amazon delivery van. 

Stalled ZET deployment

The biggest takeaway is that freight industry ZET adoption rates are behind schedule and will not currently meet the federal government's 2040 climate targets of 100 percent zero emission trucks and buses, but these are likely to change under the new Trump administration, which has just withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time. 

Calstart ZET adoption rate graph reportCalstart

Still, a total of 12,851 new ZETs were deployed in the first six months of last year with cargo vans leading the pack. Battery-electric cargo vans are smaller, cheaper to buy and maintain, and easier to operate than their medium- and heavy-duty counterparts which require a more complex and powerful charging infrastructure. 

Not surprisingly, California lead the U.S. in ZET deployment (6,313 units), followed by Texas (4,155), and Florida (3,744). Maryland, New York, and Oregon were found to have the fastest-growing ZET deployment percentage rate. Sixteen states now have over 1,000 ZET deployments compared to just six in last year's report.

California's success is attributed to its $1.5 billion investments in ZETs and infrastructure. The Golden State has over 50 public charging and refueling stations and thanks to its Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, fleets are more confident to invest in ZET deployment. 

To date, the market has produced 37 ZET manufacturers, an increase from 32 just last year. Although that may not appear to be a significant boost, it still clearly indicates the ZET market is growing.

“Zero-emission trucks are not just the future - they are here now,” said Tor Larson, vice President of trucks, off-Road, and marketing, Calstart. “This report provides a clear vision and the necessary steps to achieve wide-scale adoption, helping us reach critical climate targets while driving economic growth.”

Used ZET growth has also begun to take flight with 2,708 such units deployed, or about 6 percent of all ZET deployments.  

Despite the current market stagnation, each six-month interval reporting shows a steady ZET deployment increase. This growth rate has since dropped, partly because there was sharp climb at the beginning of 2023 when several OEMs began delivering their respective ZETs. 

Reasons for slowing ZET deployment

Calstart's report found several reasons why ZET deployment has stalled, among them:

  • Infrastructure delays
  • High purchase prices
  • Insurance and monthly lease payments are higher because insurers and financiers lack data because these are new technologies
  • Ongoing state and federal level regulatory uncertainty makes it hard for fleets and manufacturers to decide how much to invest in zero-emissions vehicles

California's drayage success

Calstart points out another reason for California's ZET deployment success: drayage fleets at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. All told, there are 22,550 drayage trucks in the state's drayage registry as of October 14, 2024. Among those, 415 are ZETs - more than half of the state's 693 zero-emission heavy-duty truck deployment.

[Related: Federal and California taxes hinder ZEV growth, says drayage operator]

Jay Traugott has covered the automotive and transportation sector for over a decade and now serves as Senior Editor for Clean Trucking. He holds a drifting license and has driven on some of the world's best race tracks, including the Nurburgring and Spa. He lives near Boulder, Colorado, and spends his free time snowboarding, climbing, and hiking. He can be reached at [email protected].

Hydrogen Fuel Cell & BEV Survey
The following survey was sent as a link in an email cover message in February 2023 to the newsletter lists for Overdrive and CCJ. After approximately two weeks, a total of 176 owner-operators under their own authority, 113 owner-operators leased or assigned to a carrier and 82 fleet executives and 36 fleet employees from fleets with 10 or more power units had completed and submitted the questionnaire for a total of 407 qualified responses. Cross-tabulations based on respondent type are provided for each question when applicable.
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