Cutting the total cost of ownership could boost the transition to zero-emission truck fleets. A new study released by the respected McKinsey & Company consultancy observes that the total cost of ownership (TCO) for ZEVs remains significantly higher than that of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The TCO gap ranges between 30% and 50% compared to ICE vehicles running on dirtier diesel fuel.

“Trucking is a significant source of emissions. Given that transportation is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, with medium- and heavy-duty trucks accounting for about a quarter of these, transitioning fleets to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) has emerged as an urgent priority. [footnote 1] McKinsey’s recent survey of more than 200 US trucking fleets found that while two-thirds are committed to decarbonization and over half are piloting ZEVs, fewer than 10% see a viable path to scaling the use of ZEVs. [2] Adoption currently sits at a few thousand units per year, and even with decarbonization targets, there is uncertainty around scalable and timely zero-emission truck adoption,” McKinsey said.