Despite the impacts of Covid-19 on vehicle sales and production, zero-emission (ZE) truck and bus models are on the verge of a major surge in the United States and Canada. New data from Calstart’s Global Commercial Vehicle Drive to Zero’s Zero-Emission Technology Inventory (ZETI) tool shows that by the end of 2020, the U.S. and Canada are on track to have 169 different ZE commercial vehicle models available or soon-to-be-available for purchase compared to 95 models in 2019 –  a 78 percent increase.

North America is experiencing an increase in zero-emission commercial vehicle offerings as fleets and shippers look to reduce pollution and comply with increasingly strict regional regulations, according to research from Calstart, a clean transportation accelerator.

The number of models of zero-emission trucks, buses, and off-road equipment is expected to double between the end of 2019 and 2023, according to a new analysis by Calstart. “Zero-emission trucks and buses are on the verge of a major surge in the U.S. and Canada,” said Calstart Northeast Regional Director Ben Mandel during a June 2 media briefing. “The growth we’re seeing is happening really across the board.”

The number of available and announced models of zero-emission trucks, buses and off-road equipment in the United States and Canada is on track to rise nearly 78% by the end of 2020 compared to year-end 2019, according to the Zero-Emission Technology Inventory (ZETI), a product of CALSTART’s Global Commercial Vehicle Drive to Zero program.