The North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) released their findings for regions that have strong potential to deploy electric trucks. Typically, regional haul, heavy-duty trucking operations are strong candidates for electrification because of their relatively short-hauls and return-to-base operations. The study proposes a three-part framework for the industry to use to prioritize regions for electric truck deployments:
- Identify the regions that are most favorable to the unique attributes of the technology.
- Identify the regions that exhibit the greatest need for technology.
- Identify the regions that provide the most support for the technology.
Some key findings:
- Regions favorable for electric truck deployments include Northern & Southern California, Texas Triangle, Cascadia, Front Range, and the Northeast.
- Since many trucking operations across state lines, fleets should think about electric vehicle deployment regionally.
- Policies and incentives to support electric truck adoption vary drastically by region.
- Policymakers and advocates looking to increase the adoption of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in their regions should consider which of the framework criteria they can change.
- Fleets should work with policymakers, regulators, utilities, and other stakeholders in their region to collaboratively develop strategies to advance zero-emission trucks.
Some recommendations:
- Conduct Analysis at Smaller Scale. Such as utility territories, metropolitan areas, key trucking corridors, or census tracks by performing analysis with more fine-grained resolution.
- Share Results with Policymakers. Present analysis and findings to policymakers to help inform plans for trucking electrification in their jurisdiction. Help identify opportunities and address challenges.
- Analyze Economic Development Opportunities. Conduct analysis of economic development opportunities for high-priority regions, including jobs, new supply chains, and local manufacturing.
An excellent example of a deployment plan that hits on the NACFE checkmarks is the New York City Clean Trucks Program. The program offers rebate incentive funding to reduce diesel exhaust emissions by replacing older, heavy polluting diesel trucks with new battery-electric, or EPA emission compliant alternative fuel (compressed natural gas, diesel-electric hybrid, and plug-in hybrid) and diesel trucks. Funding is available from $12,000 up to $185,000 per truck replacement, depending on fuel type and truck class size. Eligible trucks for replacement must be in or provide service within 0.5 miles of a program approved industrial business zones for the previous 24 months.
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