The higher sticker prices of ZE-MHDVs are often cited as the most significant barrier limiting adoption at scale. Deployments are starting to emerge globally where ZE-MHDVs offer a lower total cost of ownership compared to diesel. However, these are the exceptions rather than the rule. Creating a global tipping point for mass market adoption will require these technologies to be widely recognized as the most affordable transportation option for fleets, and for fleets to be able to spread out their high upfront costs over the lifetime of the assets.

CALSTART’s Drive to Zero program aims to accelerate the global tipping point for mass market adoption by making ZE-MHDVs the most cost-effective transportation option globally, and ensuring financial products are available for fleets to adopt them across geographies. Business case optimization will accelerate deployments in line with the Global MOU targets of achieving 30% new ZE-MHDV sales by 2030 and 100% by 2040.