Drive to Zero Newsletter – July 2021

Dear Drive to Zero Pledge Partners and Allies:

It was very encouraging to hear that the U.K., as host of COP26, has announced the phaseout sales of internal combustion engines between 2035 and 2040. We hope that an increasing number of countries join forces through the Global Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) to accelerate sales of zero-emission commercial vehicle technologies. As we’ve mentioned previously, the Global MOU, which will be announced at COP26, aims at ensuring that 100% of sales of all new MHDVs are zero emissions between 2040 and 2050.

I’d also note that our team is developing a few partner surveys to better understand your needs and priorities, so that we can focus our future activities. The first survey will be targeted at our ZETI tool, so please stay tuned for that.

– Cristiano Façanha, Global Director, CALSTART/Drive to Zero


Drive to Zero Program Progress and Updates

ZET Global Expo

Recognizing the essential role zero-emission trucks (ZETs) must play in reaching our collective Paris Agreement goals, Drive to Zero will launch a ZET Global Expo at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in November in Glasgow. In conjunction with the recent call to action for a Global MOU to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, the ZET Global Expo will highlight industry and government ambition and showcase the strong reality and capability of available ZET technology. Be sure to visit the Drive to Zero website for updates and more information on how to get involved. (LINK)

How We Can Stop Missing the Boat on Big Trucks

Drive to Zero campaign leaders Cristiano Façanha and Owen MacDonnell explore misconceptions about large zero-emission trucks, emphasizing that technology readiness and model availability are advancing rapidly, and cost parity is expected by 2030 or much sooner if strong incentives are in place. This post borrows from the campaign’s Zero Emissions Technology Inventory’s analytics, industry research, and policy trends to demonstrate how fleets considering zero-emission trucks can start thinking big. (LINK)


Drive to Zero Pledge Partner Update

The Drive to Zero pledge partner network continues to grow, and we are excited to welcome three new signatories.

  • European consumer goods giant Unilever has over 400 brands available in over 190 countries. As a major freight system user, Unilever has a distribution network transporting products over 1.5 billion kilometers each year, and the company is committed to working with logistics partners to achieve net zero emissions by 2039.
  • SEST SENAT is part of the largest transportation industry association in Brazil, representing all road carriers in the nation. They have about 150 operational units throughout Brazil where they provide training and professional development for all transportation professionals, including eco-driving modules for truck drivers with the aid of driving simulators. SEST SENAT are very interested to bring strong international best practices to ensure Brazilian transportation professionals remain competitive and trained.
  • pManifold is a strategic research and consulting firm based in Maharashtra, India, focused on clean technology market development in the energy and e-mobility sectors. Through its EV Academy, pManifold offers technical training and certification programs in electric vehicle system engineering, route planning, and performance optimization, including an upcoming course on E-Truck System Integration providing applied instruction on electric truck components, battery and power management, and total cost modelling.

Learn more about the Pledge on the Drive to Zero website (LINK)


Drive to Zero is Hiring

Program Manager – China

CALSTART is seeking a highly-motivated, experienced, and results-oriented Program Manager to manage and lead Drive to Zero’s work plan and activities in China, work with key government agencies, industry and stakeholders to provide information, strategies and support for faster ZECV deployment. This position will be based in the U.S.

Apply to this position or share with others! (LINK)


News Updates

Policy makers continue to line the road to zero-emissions with clear and promising signage. The U.K. government released its new transport plan that will phase out internal combustion engine vehicle sales between 2.5 and 26 tonnes by 2035 and greater than 26 tonnes by 2040 (subject to consultation). Austria’s Infrastructure Minister has shared a proposed “Mobility Master Plan 2030” that serves as a map and a compass for decarbonizing all transportation segments, including heavy commercial vehicles. The state of California will continue to invest in a clean commercial transportation sector through its announced budget, which includes more than $1.4 billion in targeted incentives and programs for commercial vehicle electrification and more nearly an additional $1 billion for associated infrastructure programs.

As the scale of zero-emission commitments increases, researchers are developing solutions for how to better manage vehicle batteries’ end-of-life. The Mobility House has installed a grid-integrated 4.7 MW battery array that is powered by used EV batteries. The project increases the Mobility House’s total second-life European battery capacity to 33MW. At a larger scale, a 100 MW grid-integrated battery storage array has been installed in southern California to support peak power demand for Southern California Edison’s service territory using new Tesla Powerwall batteries. Researchers have also made exciting progress in battery recycling – Swedish company Stena Recycling will invest €24.5 million in new facilities with processes that can recover 95 percent of the original battery materials, and the United Kingdom-based Faraday Institution has developed a new technology to make battery material recovery more efficient.

Lastly, the beachhead model of subsequent technology transfer to more challenging applications is evident in recent deployments:

Please share new information, potential partners, and innovative practices to achieve our Drive to Zero goals at info@globaldrivetozero.org. Follow us on Twitter @TeamDrivetoZero. Please feel free to share this newsletter with others.

Dan Welch, Senior Project Manager, CALSTART


Drive to Zero is Hiring

Program Manager – China

CALSTART is seeking a highly-motivated, experienced, and results-oriented Program Manager to manage and lead Drive to Zero’s work plan and activities in China, work with key government agencies, industry and stakeholders to provide information, strategies and support for faster ZECV deployment. This position will be based in the U.S.

Apply to this position or share with others! (LINK)


News Links

Events / Reports

  • Researchers Identify Near-Term Opportunity For Heavy-Duty Electric Trucks (LINK)

 Fleet Deployments

  • Volvo Trucks customer Manhattan Beer Distributors orders five VNR Electric models for New York beverage distribution (LINK)
  • Heineken uses electric beer truck for last-mile delivery in Amsterdam (LINK)
  • England’s first double-decker hydrogen buses to launch in London (LINK)
  • Halifax to get 60 electric buses as part of $112M deal (LINK)
  • LeasePlan orders 3,000 Arrival electric vans (LINK)
  • Renault’s electric garbage truck bound for Florence (LINK)

Markets

  • Regional haul and electric trucks: a winning combination (LINK)

Manufacturers and Models: Trucks and Buses

  • Mercedes debuts its first fully electric semi truck in Europe (LINK)
  • NYC sanitation department to purchase seven Mack electric refuse trucks (LINK)
  • Voltia refrigerated electric van approved for real-life tests in Austria (LINK)
  • Hytrucks to deploy 1000 H2 trucks by 2025 (LINK)
  • Sainsbury’s adds fully electric carbon-friendly trailers to its fleet (LINK)
  • Penske, ROUSH CleanTech, and Proterra Announce New Collaboration for Next-Generation F-650 Electric Commercial Trucks (LINK)
  • Moscow will only procure electric buses from now (LINK)

Manufacturers and Models: Port Equipment and Off-Road

  • Sandvik announces electric mining vehicle order from Canada (LINK)

Environment

  • EU aims to “give humanity a fighting chance” with catch-all climate plan (LINK)

Government Policies

  • LA City Council Authorizes Loading Zones for Zero-Emission Vehicles Only (LINK)
  • Governor Cuomo Announces New York Will Explore Potential Role of Green Hydrogen as Part of Comprehensive Decarbonization Strategy (LINK)
  • When is the London ULEZ expanding and who will have to pay? (LINK)
  • Austria considers combustion ban for 2030 (LINK)
  • (UK) Government publishes world’s first ‘greenprint’ to decarbonise all modes of domestic transport by 2050 (LINK)

Financial Incentives

  • (U.S.) DOE awarding $52.5M to 31 clean hydrogen projects (LINK)
  • U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $182 Million in Grants to Expand Low or No Emission Transit Vehicles & Facilities Nationwide (LINK)
  • California Budget Approves Historic Clean Transportation Investments (LINK)
  • (Scotland approves) £50 million for zero emission buses in 2021 (LINK)

Fuels & Infrastructure

  • Volvo, Daimler, Traton invest $593 million to build electric truck charging network (LINK)
  • Groundbreaking Edmonton-Calgary heavy-duty hydrogen truck pilot ready to roll (LINK)

 Batteries & Technology

  • The Mobility House completes first grid-friendly second-life car battery storage system in France (LINK)
  • Battery Energy Storage Facility Opens in Ventura County (LINK)
  • Stena Recycling invests in new battery recycling facility (LINK)
  • Blackstone aims for 500 MWh production capacity in 2022 (LINK)
  • Faraday Institution improves battery resource recovery (LINK)
  • CATL puts Yibin 15-GWh-plant section into operation (LINK)
  • South Korea to invest in battery industry (LINK)
  • Nio receives certification for battery swapping stations (LINK)
  • LG Chem will invest $5.2B in battery materials through 2025 (LINK)