Drive to Zero Newsletter – July 2025

The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in Busan, South Korea from August 25-28 is less than a month away. CEM is one of our premier events annually to advance the Global MOU community’s work to speed the global transition to zero-emission freight and achieve international climate goals.

With this critical opportunity to reach key policymakers, decision-makers, and corporate leaders in mind, Drive to Zero will co-host a multidimensional event with the International Transport Forum, International Energy Administration, the International Solar Alliance, the Rocky Mountain Institute, and others on Accelerating Decarbonization: Transforming Energy and Transport Systems Globally (Aug. 25th at BEXCO Exhibition Center, #55 APEC-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan / Side

Event Room: Room 217 (2nd Floor BEXCO). Along with these key partners, I will share the stage with important leaders from our host country Korea, and others, to discuss the economic, jobs, climate, health, and resilience imperative to achieve a full zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicle (ZE-MHDV) transition by 2050. Look for our e-invitation and additional details to follow.

This year, CEM16/MI-10 will be conducted in conjunction with the APEC Energy Ministerial meeting and World Climate Industry Expo in the same innovative country. When I was in Korea for the CEM senior officials earlier this year, I saw the country’s commitment to clean transportation in action with ZE-MHDVs on the road including the zero-emission buses manufactured by Global MOU endorser BYD. South Korea has committed to convert 100 percent of public transit buses to zero-emission by 2030. The government is investing heavily in hydrogen and electric charging infrastructure, with national roadmaps targeting more than 500 hydrogen refueling stations and tens of thousands of EV chargers by the end of the decade.

With CEM taking place in this hotspot for zero-emission innovation and policy, I’m hopeful we will enjoy impactful connections and accelerate our drive to zero. I look forward to reporting back to you upon my return. Don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn for real-time updates.

— Stephanie Kodish, Global Director, CALSTART/Drive to Zero

Spotlighting Zero-Emission Trucks & Buses at CEM

At this year’s CEM, we will spotlight the “quadruple A” proposition of zero-emission trucks and buses: They are Advanced, Affordable, Available and Adopted!

  • Advanced: ZE-MDHVs on the market are state-of-the-art. They reduce pollution and fuel costs. They are operationally superior to diesel trucks and buses offering a smoother and quieter ride as well as advanced safety features, lower fuel and maintenance costs, and enhanced performance and handling.
  • Affordable: By 2030-2035, the vast majority of ZE-MHDVs will be cheaper to own and operate than traditional MDHV models.
  • Available: Today, there are nearly 960 ZE-MHDV models on the market, a nearly 50% increase from 2021 when 570 models were available.
  • Adopted: In 2024, more than 250,000 ZE-MHDVs were sold around the world.

Special Features

Colombia Officially Joins as New Global MOU Co-Lead

As of July 1, Colombia is officially the country co-lead for the Global MOU community. In this role, Colombia will help shape our community’s strategies and programming to advance the Global MOU goals of achieving at least 30% new ZE-MHDV sales by 2030 and 100% new sales by 2050. A true clean transportation leader, Colombia’s strong ZE-MHDV policies include a mandate to achieve 100% new zero-emission bus sales by 2035 and ambitious HDV emission standards.

India Launches Major Financial Incentives for Zero-Emission Trucks

For the first time, India will begin offering major financial incentives designed to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission trucks. These incentives, which are a critical new feature of PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) initiative, are expected to support the deployment of 5,6000 e-trucks throughout ports, the cement and steel industries, and the logistics sector. Read more about this truly groundbreaking initiative on LinkedIn! Don’t forget to see how India is Charging Up Change!

India-based Transvolt Mobility Receives $20M For ZE-MHDV Deployment

Transvolt Mobility, a Mumbai-based OEM agnostic e-mobility solutions leader and endorser of the Global MOU has secured $20 million of equity capital as part of its $50 million financing round from the IFC – International Finance Corporation to scale zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicle deployments in India!

This announcement represents an impactful boost for India’s growing ZE-MHDV ecosystem and is a testament to the growing confidence of global investors in Indian freight innovators. For more information, see IFC’s press release here.

 

Welcome to Our New Global MOU Endorser!

Sycada

Upcoming Events

Mark Your Calendars: Global MOU Forum 2026!

The Global MOU Forum 2026 (formerly the Global MOU Summit) will take place from September 8 – 10 in Santiago, Chile. It’s never too early to register and get more information about our first community-wide gathering in Latin America! Speakers, activities, and sponsorship opportunities will be announced soon! This event is limited to members of the Global MOU community only. Not a member? Become one today by endorsing the Global MOU!

Endorse the Global MOU

In the Spotlight: Europe’s Green Corridor Initiative

Through our action accelerator events, the Global Green Road Corridors Initiative spotlights the development of green freight corridors around the world. Next up: At 8:30 am EDT / 12:30 pm UTC / 2:30 pm CEST on September 8, we’ll learn about European Corridor to Zero, led by AVERE Ukraine, EV Consult, and GNerdiX. The corridor covers two major routes across the region:

  • Route 1 “Latitude” Western Europe – Ukraine (Rotterdam – Kyiv) (2,127 km / 1,321 mi)

  • Route 2 “Longitude” North Baltic – Balkans (Helsinki – Ljubljiana (2,105 km / 1,307 mi)

In addition to decarbonizing heavy transport, AVERE Ukraine is focused on supporting Ukraine’s rebuilding and recovery efforts, including building the infrastructure it needs to fully participate in the EU’s clean transportation transition. If you haven’t yet, we invite you to watch our action accelerator events on the I-95 corridor (U.S.) and the North Africa Corridor.

Sign up

Supporting Policymakers at Africa E-Mobility Week

At Africa E-Mobility Week from October 14-16, Drive to Zero, UC Davis, AfEMA, UNEP and other partners will provide in-depth support to policymakers at the “Supply-Side Regulation Lab.” In addition to providing technical assistance to Global MOU countries, we will support policymakers in developing regulatory implementation plan outlines and modeling the economic and health benefits of their country’s clean transportation goals.

To learn more or request an invitation to this invitation-only program, please contact lisa.amenya@africaema.org

Resources

ZET Talk – A New Silk Road: Building a Global ZET Logistics Network

ICYMI, in her ZET Talk at the Global MOU Summit 2025, Dr. Rishi Gupta, the founder and managing director of M/s Vision Mechatronics Private Ltd, calls on the Global MOU community to recognize it has the power to change the world. While the original silk road made trade between the East and the West possible, she believes the Global MOU community can create a “new silk road” that’s even bigger and bolder. It’s a “new silk road” consisting of a highly connected, worldwide clean transportation system that reaches all people and all corners of the planet, leaving no one behind.

Drive to Zero Celebrates EV100 Relaunch

Climate Group recently relaunched EV100, an initiative to accelerate corporate fleet electrification globally and an endorser of the Global MOU. In recognition of our shared goals, Sita Holstag, Drive to Zero’s Europe director, issued the following statement to mark EV100’s new chapter.

“Zero-emission trucks and buses are critical economic, jobs, energy security, clean air, and climate solutions we need to grow now.

As an endorser of the Global Memorandum of Understanding on Zero-Emission Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (Global MOU)—which sets an achievable goal of 100% new zero-emission truck and bus sales for countries around the world—EV100 demonstrates that it, and its members, understand the urgency of moving forward together ambitiously and quickly to electrify global freight. Companies aligned with EV100 today during its relaunch and beyond are demonstrating they see and understand the economic, jobs, and investment value of changing transportation for good.”

Top Headlines

Market

Fleet Deployments

Manufacturers and Models: Trucks and Buses

Fuels and Infrastructure

Batteries and Technology