Drive to Zero™ is working to accelerate the decarbonization of commercial vehicles through global partnerships, innovative tools, groundbreaking research, and education.
Although they are a relatively small portion of vehicles, diesel trucks and buses pack a big and devastating punch when it comes to pollution— including climate pollution.
We, and our partners in the Netherlands, are helping top global government officials and private sector innovators reach an ambitious goal of 100% new zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales by the year 2040 under the Global MOU.
Zero-emission trucks and buses are critical climate solutions we need to grow now.
They deliver clean air, economic, job, and operational benefits and can help usher in a clean energy and net-zero carbon emissions future.
Drive to Zero is a program of clean transportation accelerator CALSTART and an official campaign of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM).
THEORY OF CHANGE
- 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-emission 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.
PARTNERS
In partnership with the Netherlands government, Drive to Zero co-leads the Global Memorandum of Understanding (Global 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. The Global MOU includes an interim goal of 30% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2030. The goal of the Global MOU is to facilitate achievement of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Our actions are also supporting healthier air, new jobs, and increased operational benefits for fleets.
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.