Program Updates
Advancing Actions to Decarbonize Transport
We’re still buzzing with the excitement, passion, and progress toward the global shift to zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (ZE-MHDVs) shared at the International Transport Forum (ITF). It is clear that, despite bumps along the road, the world is accelerating this transition to not only combat the climate crisis but also to deliver vast economic, job, energy-securing, and public health benefits through decarbonizing vehicles and infrastructure. I was privileged to attend ITF and am pleased to share the critical actions and messages that Drive to Zero, the Netherlands, and our partners presented and discussed:
- Regulations are key; they push the markets by providing stability and industry certainty.
- The transition to ZE-MHDVs must be pervasive across the Global South as well as the Global North. An economically, socially, and environmentally just transition must address the needs of people and not result in shifting fossil fuel-powered vehicles from the North to the South.
- Advanced grid planning, supported by collaboration across government, utilities, and infrastructure providers, is vital. All government agencies must work together to ensure success.
- To meet climate goals, major markets need to achieve 100 percent ZE sales for cars and vans by 2035 and for buses and trucks by 2040. All other countries need to follow suit to collectively reach 100 percent ZE sales for new vehicles by 2045.
- The Netherlands and CALSTART-led Global Memorandum of Understanding (Global MOU) on ZE-MHDVs is THE key mechanism for setting and aligning the ZE-MHDV standard across the world, now supported by 36 countries and 150+ endorsers.
- Systems-level approaches are needed between energy, infrastructure, and transport to advance ambition and achieve real-world results. The new and crucial ZEVWISE Global Green Corridors Initiative is bringing together the full ecosystem of stakeholders to revolutionize the flow of goods between ports, highways, and cities to be equitable, carbon-free, and scalable across each continent.
- Increasing energy efficiency and shifting modes of transport where feasible is needed to reduce emissions.
It is undeniable that global ambition for ZE-MHDVs is on the rise, and ambition must be met by matching policies and concrete implementation. As we welcome more country signatories (that already represent one in every five MHDVs on the road) and endorsers (representing every stakeholder across the commercial vehicle ecosystem) to the Global MOU community—plus celebrate the launch of the ZEVWISE Global Green Corridors Initiative—we must swiftly accelerate actions to finance, plan, and deploy the infrastructure and vehicles we need to change transport for good.
-Stephanie Kodish, Global Director, CALSTART / Drive to Zero
Panelists at ITF in Focus: Decarbonising Transport. Left to right: Olivia Wessendorff, Sustainable Transport and Global Outreach Advisor to the SG International Transport Forum; Diego Silva López, Chief of Strategy and Operators Contracts Management Directory of Metropolitan Public Transport (DTPM), Santiago, Chile; Agustina Calatayud, Head of Transportation Research Inter-American Development Bank; Mohamed Hegazy, Principal & Managing Director Transport for Cairo L.L.P.; Ririn Radiawati Kusuma, Indonesia Director Clean Air Asia; Sita Holtslag, Europe Director, Drive to Zero, CALSTART. Credit: International Transport Forum.
Industry News
European Union Formally Adopts Strict CO2 Emissions Regulations for New Heavy-Duty Vehicles
It’s official. With a goal of achieving a remarkable 90 percent CO2 emissions reduction by 2040, the European Council has taken a massive step forward in combating the climate crisis—new heavy-duty vehicles will increasingly be zero-emission across Europe.
Iberdrola and BP to Install First Megawatt Chargers in Southern Europe
Global MOU endorser Iberdrola, in partnership with BP, has announced plans to build megawatt charging stations in Spain. These stations will be part of the fast-charging “Mediterranean corridor” for heavy goods transport with logistics company Disfrimur.
Zero-Emission Truck Deployments Taking Off in United States, A Global MOU Signatory
CALSTART’s latest report highlights that more than 30,000 zero-emission trucks have been deployed in the country as of December 2023. Major announcements were also made at the Advanced Clean Trucks Expo this month: PepsiCo will be expanding its electric fleet in California to include 50 more of the much-anticipated Class 8 Tesla Semi trucks and 75 Ford E-Transit electric vans, Amazon is launching its largest fleet of electric heavy-duty trucks to date with 50 Class 8 Volvo VNR Electric trucks, and truck charging station specialist WattEV will expand its current fleet to more than 180 electric trucks from various manufacturers.
Special Features
Global MOU Community Grows with New Country Signatories and Endorsers
Seychelles, Tonga, and Costa Rica have joined the Global MOU as country signatories! A total of 36 countries are now committed to the world’s most ambitious, collaborative goal of 100 percent zero-emission new truck and bus sales by 2040, and at least 30 percent by 2030.
We also celebrated 31 new Global MOU endorsers at ITF! Now 151 sub-national governments, businesses, knowledge partners, and industry leaders across all continents are part of the global effort to accelerate ZE-MHDV production and deployment.
ZEVWISE Global Green Corridors Initiative Launched
First eight planned green corridors; two more to be included later in 2024.
ZEVWISE, a collaborative of leading global governments, development finance institutions, and nonprofit organizations, has launched a global effort to advance green freight corridors touching nearly every continent by 2026!
This initiative will demonstrate holistic models for successful infrastructure deployment and finance, serving as a blueprint, beacon, and catalyst for replication and scale. Drive to Zero is proud to lead this vital work. Learn more about the Global Green Corridors and ZEVWISE here.
Top Headlines
