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Welcome to ZEV Help! Your Guide to Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicles

Headwinds

Headwinds and Challenges:

to Implementation of Zero-Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) For Class 6-8 Commercial Vehicles

The trucking industry understands the environmental impact and is not opposed to an orderly transition to an alternative to the traditional diesel-powered internal combustion engine.  However, as an essential industry within the United States economy, we would be negligent if we did not bring visibility to the significant headwinds and challenges that are faced with this transition.

Research entities such as the American Trucking Research Institute and coalition organizations such as the Clean Freight Coalition have done tremendous work in creating very thorough studies regarding these challenges. Much of the information presented on this topic going forward is borrowed heavily from these two resources. Research and websites for these two entities are linked at the bottom of the page.

 The challenges for the nation and the industry can largely be put into three (3) categories: United States Energy Production and Infrastructure, Raw Material Sourcing, and Operational/Tactical Challenges.

Challenge 1: United States Energy Production and Infrastructure
Challenge 2: Raw Material Sourcing
Challenge 3: Operational/Tactical

Conclusion

As previously stated, the trucking industry does not stand in opposition to a measured deployment of battery-electric commercial vehicles. However, significant work must be done to overcome the challenges outlined. The aging national electric grid simply cannot generate, transmit, and distribute enough reliable power at the level required. Retrofitting the national grid for a national network of battery-electric trucks will require a massive investment of $370 billion and will require the United States to further its trade imbalance with countries that are currently considered direct or indirect adversaries. At a carrier’s operational level, the acquisition costs of new tractors, charging stations, and diminished ranges and capacity will drastically alter their business models.

Sources

Advanced Clean Trucks Credit Summary Through the 2022 Model Year, California Air Resources Board, https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/fact-sheets/advanced-clean-trucks-credit-summary-through-2022-model-year

Charging Infrastructure Challenges for the U.S. Electric Vehicle Fleet, American Transportation Research Institute (Dec. 2022)

Driving to Zero Emissions, Kenworth, https://www.kenworth.com/innovation/zero-emissions/ (accessed Apr. 2024)

New Report Pegs Cost of Electriying U.S. Commercial Truck Fleet at $1 Trillion, Clean Freight Coalition, https://www.cleanfreightcoalition.org/new-report-pegs-cost-electrifying-us-commercial-truck-fleet-1-trillion (Mar. 2024)

Arkansas Smackover Lithium Project, NS Energy, Arkansas Smackover Lithium Project, Arkansas, USA (nsenergybusiness.com) (accessed Apr. 2024)