Drive to Zero Newsletter – January 2025

Program Updates

Meaningful Action in 2025

In 2025, our Drive to Zero community has the opportunity to show the world what meaningful global action on climate change looks like. It could be easy to lose hope. We’ve surpassed our target to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, last year’s COP was largely considered a disappointment, and Los Angeles County continues to experience deadly, devastating fires—with new evacuation orders last week affecting tens of thousands.

But I believe in all of you and the work we’re doing together. I have no doubt our community will help stem the climate crisis, make our planet healthier, and serve as a model for how to decarbonize other sectors. With hope for the future knowing that our Drive to Zero community is working collaboratively and ambitiously, we are eager to continue our partnership with your expertise, ideas, and passion to champion these efforts in 2025:

  • Passing the key policies needed to transform diesel truck and bus fleets: Drive to Zero is collaboratively supporting Mexico in its learnings as the country works to adopt a comprehensive National Electric Mobility Strategy in 2025. In a U.C. Davis-led effort, Mexico’s government recently met with Global MOU signatories, the United States of America and Canada, to discuss U.S. policies, programs, and complementary efforts to lower transport emissions. The defining role of regulations to ensure zero-emission vehicle supply emerged as foundational, alongside the significant market potential for zero-emission freight in the country. Drive to Zero was honored to take part in these convenings, conveying our commitment and capacity to support strong zero-emission medium-and heavy-duty vehicle (ZE-MHDV) policy in Mexico, as well as ecosystem transformation through the Global Green Road Corridors Initiative. Additionally, we will keep Mexico and the world updated on the technological availability of ZE-MHDVs in Mexico through the ZETI Data Explorer/Explorador de datos del Inventario de tecnologías de cero emisiones (ZETI).
  • Growing our dynamic Global MOU community: Thirty-eight countries have committed to work together to reach 100% new zero-emission truck and bus sales by 2040, with an interim goal of 30% new sales by 2030, to enable net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Global MOU countries will meet this spring at the Global MOU Summit 2025 to share progress, plan, and take actions to advance our Global MOU goals. Sub-national governments and companies can join our Global MOU community now by endorsing the efforts of our leading-edge Global MOU countries.
  • Accelerating zero-emission infrastructure: At COP29, Drive to Zero and our ZEVWISE partners (Electric Vehicles Initiative, ICCT, Government of the Netherlands, Smart Freight Centre, U.N. Environment Programme, The World Bank, and World Business Council for Sustainable Government) announced two new Global Green Road Corridors (GGRC). The GGRC Initiative will establish high-volume freight roadways as replicable models for successful zero-emission infrastructure deployment and finance, creating a pathway for replication and scale. 2025 will bring new progress and announcements.
  • Boosting key financial products and investment mechanisms that accelerate zero-emission truck and bus sales: In 2025, Drive to Zero will help Global MOU countries identify, analyze, and establish financial products and investment mechanisms to increase cost-competitiveness and access to finance. CALSTART, in collaboration with the Green Finance Institute and Mineral Springs Inc, will develop blueprints to set up residual value and first loss risk-sharing facilities that bring down costs and unlock asset-backed financing for ZE-MHDVs, as well as working with first-mover countries to set up these products.

2024 was the hottest year on record globally and the impacts of climate change are becoming more visible every day. I’m proud that our global community is already doing the challenging and rewarding work to turn the tide, as shown in our Charging Up Change series. View our spotlights on Brazil and Indiaand prepare to be inspired. Together, we can grow our zero-emission transport sector quickly, cost-effectively, and equitably.

-Stephanie Kodish, Global Director, Drive to Zero

Special Features

Request for Submissions: Be Featured in Our Knowledge Depot!

Drive to Zero is working to develop a new resource that will bring together real-world examples of commercial vehicle electrification. The Knowledge Depot will serve as a repository that spotlights the profiles of Global MOU endorsers to share information about the fundamental lessons learned, timelines and key project milestones, photos, video, and other supplementary material to deliver robust and digestible insights.

We are currently looking for the second wave of case studies to be included in the Knowledge Depot, and we are eager to hear what you have been working on and are willing to share this with the community. If you are interested, please fill out this form, or direct inquiries to omacdonnell@calstart.org for more information.

Fill Out the Interest Form

Introducing the World’s Largest E-Truck Charging Station on Port Property

On Wednesday, January 22, the Port of Long Beach (CA) unveiled the world’s largest e-truck charging station located on port property. At 9.5 MW, Forum Mobility station can charge up to 40 drayage trucks at a time. Major truck brands including Freightliner (Daimler), Volvo, Peterbilt, and Nikola were part of the event demonstration, and fleet operators large and small have already signed up to use the station. The CEO of the Port of Long Beach, Mario Cordero, and the head of the Harbor Trucking Association, Matt Schrap, acknowledged CALSTART’s work in advancing the zero-emission truck market.

Stay Tuned for ITF Developments

Drive to Zero is already gearing up for ITF (International Transport Forum), May 21-23, 2025 in Leipzig, Germany. In 2025, ITF will focus on how governments can support transport systems in the face of current and future disruptions including natural disasters, pandemics, cyber-attacks, and geopolitical crises. Drive to Zero will take a parallel track, focusing on growing zero-emission transport while also insulating the sector from these possible global shocks.

Learn more

Calling All Startups Looking for a Leg Up

Plug and Play partners with international government agencies, technology incubators, and universities to identify and accelerate high-potential startups from global ecosystems. The GOAL Accelerator is an immersive 4–12-week program located in the heart of Silicon Valley, designed to help tech startups scale by providing critical support in business development, fundraising, and strategic growth. Standard cohorts run twice a year, but tailored programs to meet specific needs are also offered. During the accelerator, startups receive expert guidance on key topics such as go-to-market strategies, design thinking, sales and business development, fundraising, value-based pricing, and effective pitching & storytelling.

Learn more

Welcome to our new Global MOU Endorsers!

We recently welcomed three new endorsers. Endorsers of the Global MOU are not only innovators in their respective fields, they are global leaders who are sending the market signals needed to reach 100% new zero-emission truck and bus sales by 2040.

  • JMK Research
  • Tehran Transport and Traffic Company
  • Sharif Energy, Water and Environment Institute

Endorse the Global MOU

Top Headlines

Market

Fleet Deployments

Manufacturers and Models: Trucks and Buses

Manufacturers and Models: Port Equipment and Off-Road 

Government Policies

Fuels and Infrastructure

Batteries and Technology