This first-of-its-kind report proposes a framework for prioritizing US and Canadian regions for electric truck deployments based on differences in key enabling traits. The highest priority regions share traits such as relatively mild weather, cheap electricity prices, high levels of freight movement, a pressing need to improve air quality, and supportive policies and incentives. Commercial trucking is an essential industry, particularly to support health care, the food system, and e-commerce order fulfillment in this time of COVID-19. Shifting to electric vehicles is crucial to reduce transport sector greenhouse gas emissions.
The report identifies eight high-priority regions for regional haul electric truck deployments: Northern and Southern California, the Texas Triangle, Cascadia, (stretching from Portland, Oregon through Seattle and into Vancouver, Canada), the Colorado Front Range, the Northeast U.S., the Greater Toronto Area, and Greater Montreal. NACFE and RMI have long championed regional haul trucking operations as the segment best suited to be early adopters of battery electric trucks. This is due to its relatively short-haul nature-typically less than 300 miles / 480 kilometers per day-and return-to-base operations, which make charging infrastructure buildout relatively straightforward. Regional haul is also well-suited to the range of electric trucks currently on the market.
