CALSTART releases January 2025 market update on zero-emission trucks

CALSTART has announced the latest market update to the Zeroing in on Zero-Emission Trucks series, which presents a concise and current snapshot of deployment statistics for zero-emission trucks (ZETs) and characterizes the existing U.S. medium- and heavy-duty truck market for Class 2b (8,501-10,000 lbs.) through Class 8 (33,000 lbs. and above)—including cargo vans, medium-duty (MD) step vans, MD trucks, heavy-duty (HD) trucks, refuse trucks, and yard tractors in the United States as of June 2024. This market update, the sixth in the series, also tracks deployment trends, highlights progress toward federal climate goals and identifies continued improvements on existing challenges for the transition to ZETs following the previous market update published in Spring 2024.

This market update provides the necessary insights for policymakers, manufacturers, and fleet owners to work toward a zero-emission freight future.

Key findings in the current update include:

• More than 42,500 ZETs are now deployed nationwide, a leap from 30,030 at the end of 2023.

• 12,851 new ZETs were deployed in the first six months of 2024, led by cargo vans and initial expansion into MD and HD segments.

• Sixteen states now have more than 1,000 ZET deployments, compared to six states in the previous update.

• Leading states in total deployments: California (6,313), Texas (4,155), and Florida (3,744).

• Fastest growing states by percentage: Maryland, New York, and Oregon.

• A total of 37 manufacturers have deployed ZETs, up from 32, reflecting expanded industry engagement in the zero-emission transition.

“Zero-emission trucks are not just the future—they are here now,” said Tor Larson, Vice President of Trucks, Off-Road, and Marketing, CALSTART. “This report provides a clear vision and the necessary steps to achieve wide-scale adoption, helping us reach critical climate targets while driving economic growth.”

While the report signals progress in furthering ZET adoption, the data makes it clear that the freight industry is not on track to meet federal climate targets for 2030 and beyond, however, the growth in ZET deployments highlights the industry’s ability to innovate and adapt. By focusing on high-impact applications, such as local return-to-base operations, first- and last-mile delivery, and drayage— where ZETs have already proven they can meet operational demands—the freight sector can maximize progress toward these goals. These applications provide a strong foundation for accelerating adoption and building a zero-emission freight future.

CALSTART will continue to update the data in subsequent editions of Zeroing in on ZETs. For more information on current CALSTART programs and initiatives, visit our website now.