It is fitting that Drive to Zero closes 2023 with the extraordinary news, announced at COP28, that six new countries are now signatories of the Global Memorandum of Understanding on Zero-Emission Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (Global MOU): Cape Verde, Colombia, Ghana, Iceland, Israel, and Papua New Guinea. These six nations include our first two country signatories in Africa. In total, the Global MOU countries (33 in all; see the full list here) now represent roughly 21 percent of the medium- and heavy-duty vehicle (MHDV) global sales market. Global MOU country representation has now reached a tipping point—they constitute a share of the market that will significantly influence this sector and support the transition to zero in our global transport future!
CALSTART Global Director Stephanie Kodish speaks at COP28 as part of an
all-women panel for the High-Level Event: Scaling up Transport Decarbonization
Beyond announcing the big news of the six new signatories, Drive to Zero played a leading role at COP28, where we:
- Produced a set of publications regarding Global MOU country policy advancements and recommendations for 2024, innovative financing models, and infrastructure success factors.
- Co-created, organized, spoke at, and moderated over a dozen COP28 events centering on commercial vehicle decarbonization in the global agenda. These events showcased transport policy, finance, and infrastructure developments as well as frontrunner stakeholders and actions, challenges, and the vital role of collaboration across energy and transport communities. Speakers, panels, and participants spanned dozens of countries from the Global North and Global South and reflected perspectives from government, industry, investors, nonprofits, and other stakeholders
- Launched a Charging up Change video teaser for Drive to Zero’s new video series showcasing the real people, stories, and solutions that are powering our world’s zero-emission transport future.
Now back from Dubai, we look ahead to 2024, Drive to Zero will continue working to grow and strengthen the influence of the Global MOU community; advance policy, finance, and infrastructure to accelerate the transition to zero-emission (ZE) trucks and buses; and elevate and center ZE-MHDVs as a global priority meriting swift action and full attention.
We look forward to lifting the voices of the zero-emission transport community in the new year and moving ambition to action. Now more than ever, addressing climate change is our collective moral responsibility.
— Stephanie Kodish, Global Director, CALSTART / Drive to Zero
Program Progress and Actions
Have a Compelling, Authentic Story About Transitioning to Zero-Emission Trucks?
Drive to Zero just launched its Charging Up Change visual series celebrating your successes at COP28. If you’re interested in joining others in taking part in Charging Up Change, showcasing your efforts to transform transport for good on the global stage with Drive to Zero, please reach out to Owen MacDonnell at OMacdonnell@calstart.org.
If you’re interested in showcasing your efforts to transform transport for good on the global stage with Drive to Zero,please reach out to Owen MacDonnell at OMacdonnell@calstart.org.
News Updates
As our newest Global MOU signatory countries and industry endorsers took center stage at COP28, headlines around the world showcased the urgent need for accelerated and increased action and progress made through policy and technological innovation to decarbonize transport. The highlighted articles below are just a sample of important work taking place around the world—browse the News Links for more.
European Commission Proposes Delay to EV Tariff Along with $3.2 Billion Support Fund
Together with a legally binding clause allowing for further extensions, the European Commission proposed a delay to the 10% tariff on battery-electric vehicle sales until December 31, 2026. Automakers have lobbied for the move, citing a lack of supply chain infrastructure and concerns about losing market share to Chinese electric vehicles if the tariff were to come into effect in 2024.
Buyer Found for Volta Trucks as Major Creditor Seals Deal
New York-based hedge fund Luxor Capital Group has purchased Volta Trucks for an undisclosed sum. Volta Trucks filed for bankruptcy in Sweden this past October after being impacted by the bankruptcy filing of Proterra as well as concerns about Volta’s ability to raise enough capital to continue operations.
Electric Truck with H2 Range Extender Completes Tests
Researchers funded by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport announced that their prototype of a battery-electric truck with a hydrogen fuel cell range extender has passed numerous driving and braking challenges in tests covering approximately 500 kilometers. The modular powertrain, designed for commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 41 tons, should be suitable for both new vehicles and retrofit solutions.
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.
– Justin Slosky, Technical Writer, CALSTART
News Digest
