On Earth Week it’s important to remember that there is no Plan B for our planet (as much as I love sci-fi), and that we are running out of time. The future of our transportation systems needs to be zero emissions, and there should be no compromise.

This past month the Traton Group, one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers including MAN, Scania and in the process of acquiring Navistar in North America, announced a clear focus on electric drive technologies and equivalent disinvestment in internal combustion engines.

In order to enable carbon neutrality by 2050, major European truck manufacturers including Scania, Daimler, Volvo, MAN, DAF, and CNH, under the umbrella of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), for the first time announced that all new commercial vehicles must be fossil free by 2040.

Brighter days lie ahead in the United States with a new federal administration that prioritizes not only the health of their citizens but also climate change and a speedy economic recovery with investments in zero-emission vehicles. We’ll be working with the new administration to support a complete package of regulations and incentives to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission commercial vehicles (ZECVs) and much stronger ZECV commitments ahead of COP-26 later this year.

The world-changing events of 2020 – a COVID-19 pandemic, a growing movement for racial equity and social justice, an unprecedented series of climate-driven natural disasters, and a boom in e-commerce and city deliveries – underscored the importance of our efforts to improve air quality, reduce climate impacts, and support clean technology and jobs. Against all of these challenges, we were reminded of the urgent need to transition to a zero-emission commercial transportation future.

With a new U.S. federal administration we expect faster progress towards zero-emission commercial vehicles (ZECVs). This will build on the momentum already started in California and key states in the U.S. In addition to the sales requirements for zero-emission trucks from California’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, California’s Governor Newsom announced a complete transition to zero-emission technologies for all medium- and heavy-duty vehicles on California’s  roads by 2045.

Last month California’s Governor issued an Executive Order requiring all new cars and passenger trucks sold in the state be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. In addition, California committed to developing regulations to ensure all medium- and heavy-duty vehicles be zero-emission by 2045 where feasible, and by 2035 for drayage trucks.

This month marks a momentous milestone for us. Drive to Zero was officially recognized as a new Campaign of the Clean Energy Ministerial under the Electric Vehicle Initiative, paving the way for much closer engagement with a number of nations. Canada, Chile, China, Finland, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have all agreed to work together with Drive to Zero to accelerate the deployment of zero- and near-zero emission commercial vehicles.

Despite health, political and social instability, we need to remain committed to transforming our industry with zero-emission technologies to support clean jobs, clean air, and climate action.

The past few weeks have been momentous for zero-emission commercial vehicles (ZECVs). The California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, the most ambitious yet feasible regulation to advance zero-emission trucks. Following ACT’s adoption, 15 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have…

Welcome to the June 2020 Edition of the Global Commercial Vehicle Drive to Zero Newsletter! As always, please share new information, potential partners, and innovative practices to achieve Drive to Zero goals at info@globaldrivetozero.org. Please feel free to share this newsletter with others.  Dan Welch Senior…