Drive to Zero Newsletter – January 2026

Dear Drive to Zero community,

We are in the midst of completely reshaping our global transportation systems for the better. To accelerate the transition to zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (ZE-MHDV) we need accurate, comprehensive data to understand the current market, where it can go, and how quickly it can be transformed. This is a foundational priority for Drive to Zero.

Global MoU Summit 2025 participants take a zero-emission bus.

We have created a number of innovative tools to track, analyze, report on, and mobilize our industry. By truly understanding the developments and trends of this fast-moving market, we can help ensure that countries and industry align in actions to reach the Global MOU goal of 100% new zero-emission bus and truck sales by 2040. In that vein, I couldn’t be more proud of the Drive to Zero team for developing and continuing to expand upon and modernize the Zero Emission Technology Inventory (ZETI).

Zero-emission DHL truck charges in São Paulo. Photo courtesy of EZVolt.

In its first iteration in 2020, ZETI was a simple online tool that provided U.S. audiences with a snapshot of the ZE-MHDVs that were on the market and their capabilities. Since then, ZETI has grown. It’s interactive, available in six languages, and serves as the “go-to” resource for governments, fleet operators, and other stakeholders across the globe needing reliable information about the global ZE-MHDV market.

Among other key metrics, ZETI shows the ZE-MHDVs that are available in 12 countries and 6 continents (only Antarctica isn’t included). It also tracks how model availability has evolved since the tool was developed.

A sneak preview from our new ZETI analysis: From 2022 to 2025, the number of ZE-MHDV models on the market globally increased nearly 18.6% from 813 to 964. In 2026, the number is projected to tick up to 975, indicating the market has progressed from early growth into a more mature stage.

Regularly cited by the IEA, the World Economic Forum, The Electrification Coalition, and key industry trade publications, ZETI is vital to keeping our finger on the pulse on:

  • How strong the market is for ZE-MDHVs
  • Who the key players are in the market
  • How ZE-MHDV performance is changing over time, including range specifications, battery size, payload and charging speed
  • Which ZE-MHDV models are highest performing
  • How well policies and regulations are providing OEMs with the market certainty they need to invest in ZE-MHDVs

At Drive to Zero, we say that ZE-MHDVs are affordable, available, adopted, and advanced. I invite you to dig into our new ZETI analysis to learn more about two of these pillars: available and advanced. It’s encouraging to start the new year knowing that OEMs are putting the pedal to the metal on supporting a clean transportation future.

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

Special Features

ZET Talk: California Policy Spurs Strong ZE-MHDV Market

By: Christopher Grundler, Deputy Executive Director at California Air Resources Board

By pairing supply-side with demand-side regulation, California has created a strong market for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. In 2023, one-in-six trucks sold in California were zero-emission—doubling from the year before and exceeding sales requirements years ahead of schedule. Based on preliminary results, 2024’s sales were likely just as strong. To learn more about California’s policy strategy, watch CARB Deputy Executive Director Christopher Grundler’s ZET Talk from the 2025 Global MOU Summit.

Watch Here

Upcoming Events

In the Spotlight: U.S. I-10 Corridor

Through our virtual action accelerator event series, the Global Green Road Corridors Initiative highlights the progress and development of green freight corridors around the world. Join us on Wednesday, March 11 at 8 am PDT/ 3 pm UTC / 4 pm CET as we turn our focus to the United States with an in-depth look at the U.S. I-10 Corridor, which connects Los Angeles, California, to El Paso, Texas—one of the busiest and most strategically important trade routes in the United States.

Learn how project leads Smart Freight Centre and Terawatt Infrastructure are advancing this corridor toward launch by 2027, working with major shippers such as PepsiCo and Microsoft to scale electric freight volumes and accelerate the transition to a zero-emission future.

8 am PDT/ 3 pm UTC / 4 pm CET on Wednesday, March 11

Register Here

2026 Global MOU Forum—Register Now!

From Sept. 8-10, Global MOU signatories and endorsers will gather for the 2026 Global MOU Forum in Santiago, Chile. It is our community’s most important event of the year for advancing key ZE-MHDV policy, finance, and infrastructure solutions, collaboration, and learning. We will present invaluable resources, strengthen partnerships, and receive key insights from top government officials and industry innovators from around the globe. Key focus areas will include supply-side regulations, financing models, infrastructure scaling, and smart-grid integration. Learn more and sign up here. Not yet an endorser? Become an endorser and then:

Register Here

Mobility Portal Media Opportunities—Inquire Today!

Drive to Zero is proud to partner with Mobility Portal to provide key insights on the global transition to zero-emission trucks and buses. Interested in contributing your expertise or sharing your story as part of this collaboration? Contact Ricardo Garcia at rgarciacoyne@calstart.org to learn more.

Top Headlines

Market

Fleet Deployments

Manufacturers and Models: Trucks and Buses

Financial Incentives

Fuels and Infrastructure

Batteries and Technology