Zeroing in on Zero-Emission Trucks

Zeroing in on Zero-Emission Trucks highlights the continued increase in medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) zero-emission truck (ZET) deployments in the United States. This series provides a concise and current snapshot of ZET deployment statistics and the existing U.S. MHD truck market. These reports offer insights into key trends driving growth in ZET adoption, as well as opportunities to further accelerate this growth that can help inform policymakers, original equipment manufacturers, fleet owners, and financial stakeholders.   

Latest Market Update

ZETs continue to show their viability in meeting the demands of trucking operations across the United States. More than 42,500 ZETs have been deployed on U.S. roads as of June 2024, mitigating tailpipe emissions from the communities where these vehicles operate. Fleets are adopting both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell trucks, and 37 OEMs now have at least one ZET model deployed.  

The first half of 2024 saw 12,851 new ZET deployments, 88% of which were ZE cargo vans. ZE cargo vans continue to be the driver of ZET adoption due to their smaller batteries, high production volumes from multiple OEMs, ideal duty-cycle capability, and much lower upfront costs.  

California leads in deployments with 6,313 ZETs, driven by more than $1.5 billion invested for ZETs and their infrastructure. With more than 50 public charging and refueling stations, a low carbon fuel standard, and regulations such as the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, the state has helped fleets more easily plan for and deploy ZETs. California is followed by Texas and Florida, and 16 states now have more than 1,000 ZETs deployed, up from six since the May 2024 market update.  

Scaling ZET deployments, however, is proving difficult. The pace of adoption must double to meet the federal climate targets of 100% new ZE truck and bus sales by 2040, with an interim goal of 30% of new sales by 2030. While barriers still exist, there are many solutions to accelerate ZET deployments.  To ensure broader adoption, maximizing the impact through local return-to-base operations, first- and last-mile delivery, and drayage—applications where ZETs have already demonstrated their ability to meet operational demands—can be achieved by: 

• Expanding incentives for fleets operating in these hubs.  
• Providing targeted infrastructure investments to make charging and refueling readily available. 
• Implementing innovative financing solutions to make ZETs more affordable for all fleets to purchase. 
• Enacting additional policies to signal to OEMs, fleets, shippers, utilities, and infrastructure providers to further invest in ZETs.  

Past Reports

Browse the links below for the full library of Zeroing in on ZETs reports and market updates.