Drive to Zero^TM aims to enable and accelerate the growth of global zero-emission (ZE) commercial vehicles, with the vision that ZE technology will be commercially viable by 2025 and dominate by 2040 in specific vehicle segments (referred to as “beachhead” segments) and regions (China, United States led by California, the European Union, India, Canada, Japan, Mexico, and South America).

THEORY OF CHANGE

Our theory of change is to:

• Target first-success markets where electrification works now
• Build supporting “ecosystems” in first-mover regions made up of aligned policies, incentives, infrastructure investments, and pilot projects
• Work concurrently and collaboratively across regions and industry worldwide to encourage global supply chain of critical components and manufacturers
• Expand technology development and implementation to other on-road, off-road, and marine sectors as components mature, volumes grow, and costs decrease.

THE BEACHHEAD STRATEGY

Drive to Zero is built upon the Beachhead Strategy, a technology strategy for change. The Beachhead Strategy identifies the commercial vehicle market segments where zero- and near-zero technologies are most likely to succeed first. Those are typically urban applications where vehicles operate along known routes and relatively shorter distances and can charge overnight at depots. Developed in partnership between CALSTART and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the Beachhead Strategy aligns closely with the market and product strategies of major truck and component makers worldwide and has been incorporated into CARB’s three-year investment plan strategy.

PARTNERS

Drive to Zero connects Pledge Partners – cities, national and regional government agencies, manufacturers, fleets, fuel/energy suppliers, and other organizations – that have pledged to collaboratively put in place supporting mechanisms to speed the early market for zero-emission trucks, buses and equipment.

Drive to Zero^TM program and campaign aims to accelerate the growth of global zero-emission (ZE) commercial vehicle space, with the aim of ZE technology becoming commercially competitive by 2025 and dominant by 2040 in specific vehicle segments and regions. Drive to Zero is built upon a technology strategy for change called The Beachhead Strategy — a strategy that identifies the commercial vehicle market segments where zero- and near-zero technologies are most likely to succeed and help drive growth in other segments.

Drive to Zero connects Pledge Partners – cities, national and regional government agencies, manufacturers, fleets, fuel/energy suppliers, and other organizations – that have agreed to collaboratively put in place supporting mechanisms to speed the early market for zero-emission trucks, buses and equipment.

In partnership with the Netherlands government, Drive to Zero co-leads the Global Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, where leading countries commit to working together to enable 100% zero-emission new truck and bus sales by 2040 with an interim goal of 30% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2030, to facilitate achievement of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

In addition, Drive to Zero actively participates in several leading global and regional networks working collaboratively with Implementation Partners to accelerate the transition to zero-emission commercial vehicles.

WHO WE ARE

Drive to Zero is a campaign of the Clean Energy Ministerial, a high-level global forum to promote policies and programs that advance clean energy technology, and a program of CALSTART, a clean transportation industry non-profit consortium with 270+ members.

FUNDING

Drive to Zero is fully funded by a number of philanthropic foundations aimed at climate change mitigation and air pollution reduction, including ClimateWorks Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Energy Foundation China, European Climate Foundation and others.