US commits to 100% zero-emission trucks by 2040

The United States has joined New Zealand and more than 20 other countries in an agreement to support 100% new zero-emission medium-and heavy-duty vehicle sales by 2040. 

It signed the Global Memorandum of Understanding on Zero-Emission Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles at this year’s COP27 climate change conference. 

The agreement aims for the zero-emissions 2040 target at the latest, with an interim goal of at least 30% new sales by 2030.

It marks a significant step for truck electrification with the US being the largest commercial vehicle market to commit to the goal. Globally, the US is the second largest market for commercial trucks after China. 

New Zealand signed up to the agreement last year and also joins other countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada. 

US secretary of energy Jennifer M. Granholm says the agreement will help meet clean energy goals.

“This global partnership will leverage the billions of dollars in clean transportation investments provided by President Biden’s agenda to drive technological innovation, lower vehicle costs, and reduce transportation emissions.” 

John Boesel, chief executive of California-based clean vehicle technology non-profit CALSTART, says the US signing of the agreement “sends a powerful message to the international community that it will work strategically and collaboratively to transition the commercial vehicle sector to zero-emissions”. 

It will advance zero-emission vehicle manufacturing, boost the economy and create good paying jobs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, he adds. 

The Global MOU is co-led by the Netherlands and CALSTART’s Global Commercial Vehicle Drive to Zero (Drive to ZeroTM) programme and campaign.

Since COP26 last year, signatory countries have been meeting regularly to build a framework for reaching the ambitious 2030 and 2040 goals for zero-emission transport.

Since it first launched, private sector firms Scania, DHL, Heineken, Ballard, and Eaton have signed formal acknowledgements endorsing the targets. 

New endorsers include technology company Siemens, Workhorse Group, Commercial Vehicle Charging Europe (a joint venture of Europe’s biggest truck manufacturers, which will build at least 1700 public charge points for heavy-duty vehicles in Europe by 2027), Heliox, Avere, REE Automotive USA Inc., Brightmerge, ParkMyFleet, Phoenix Motorcars, Sono Motors, and Charge Across America. 

The ambition of the Global MOU is grounded in real-world data on model availability and technology readiness. Historically seen as a challenging segment to electrify, there are currently more than 800 models of medium-and heavy-duty vehicles on the market globally.