States Must Lead the Charge in Zero-Emission Truck Expansion
By Jacob Richard
Momentum is accelerating, geography is expanding—and the time to act is now.
The first half of 2025 has been anything but quiet. Regulatory headwinds—from the withdrawal of the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule in January to ongoing opposition against the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule in multiple states—have introduced new uncertainty. Yet the market for clean transportation hasn’t paused. Momentum continues to build, with more than 52,500 zero-emission trucks (ZETs) deployed as of year-end 2024, proof that these vehicles work in real-world applications across the United States.
And it’s not just the number of trucks that’s growing—it’s where they’re showing up. States like Maryland (439%), Georgia (247%), and New Mexico (141%) saw the most dramatic increases in deployments last year, pointing to a clear expansion beyond traditional ZET leaders like California.
Even more promising: every heavy-duty (HD) vehicle segment—from refuse trucks to yard tractors to HD trucks—saw positive year-over-year growth in 2024.
As deployments multiply and diversify, the next wave of progress will hinge on the policies and planning decisions made at the state level.
Cumulative ZETs by reporting period.
Why States Still Hold the Keys To ZET Progress
While the private sector is demonstrating that ZETs can meet operational needs, state action remains essential for wider adoption. That’s because state-level policies and programs often drive the most immediate and impactful change—from incentive programs and infrastructure investments to regulatory clarity and long-term planning.
State leadership is the electric drivetrain behind real deployment. According to Adam Browning, EVP of Policy and Communications at Forum Mobility, “States like California and Washington have the pieces in place to support the transition in ways that deploy trucks, build scale and lower costs. It’s all about getting to a positive total cost of ownership (TCO).”
The ZET Ahead Dashboard identifies the highest-impact actions states can take now. These include:
- Setting targets and creating a roadmap
- Supporting vehicle incentives and charging infrastructure
- Instituting supportive innovative policies and economic development
- Establishing and implementing regulations
To move from planning to progress, states must also confront the roadblocks still in the way.
Addressing Key Barriers
Even as progress accelerates, familiar challenges remain. We highlight several key barriers in the latest market update, including the lack of and long lead times for both public and private infrastructure and the policy uncertainty at both federal and state levels. The barrier that comes up more than the others, however, is the upfront cost and TCO. While all three pose serious hurdles, cost continues to dominate the conversation.
“The biggest challenge right now is the higher upfront capital cost of zero-emission trucks compared to diesel,” said Zack Ruderman, VP of Sales and Marketing at Orange EV. “What gives us optimism is that more fleets are shifting from sticker price to a total cost of ownership focus.”
That shift was clearly evident at the 2025 Advanced Clean Transportation Expo, where TCO emerged as a leading theme. As battery technology improves and vehicle prices trend downward, fleets are more likely to realize long-term savings from fuel and maintenance.
Electrada CEO Kevin Kushman agreed, “Progress hinges on two main drivers: the declining unit cost of medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks and improvements in EV battery power density and range.” States can make a measurable difference by supporting fleets with tools like voucher incentive programs, government-backed loan guarantees, and flexible leasing and financing models.
Policy Stability: One of the Biggest Drivers Behind ZET Growth
Perhaps the most unpredictable element in the ZET equation is the policy environment. A patchwork of rules, reversals, and stalled legislation has created confusion among fleets and investors alike.
“The most significant challenge we are facing is our policy,” said Hight Logistics CEO Rudy Diaz. “If the policy makers can continue with their efforts to go zero emissions, it will create a sustainable way of doing business.”
That’s why leadership at the state level is more important than ever. In many cases, even when federal momentum slows, states have stepped up with bold climate goals, regulatory frameworks, and funding commitments that provide the confidence fleets and manufacturers need to move forward.
From Pilot To Scale: What the Next Four Years Demand
The next phase of the ZET market isn’t about pilots or proving the concept—it’s about learning, iterating, and scaling fast. With 52,500+ trucks already on the road, the focus now must shift to bigger rollouts, smarter partnerships, and applying lessons learned to ensure the transition to zero-emission freight happens.
The next four years are not a time to put off making decisions. Now we need to build on early deployments, solve infrastructure chokepoints, and share learnings across fleets, original equipment manufacturers, infrastructure providers, and all stakeholders within the clean transportation industry.
Whether you’re a policymaker designing the next incentive program, a fleet operator evaluating ZET deployment, or a stakeholder working to accelerate adoption—we’ve gathered the data to help you make big moves including:
- Deployment data for all 50 states
- Barrier analysis and solutions
- Proven policy strategies driving real-world ZET growth
- Market outlook and recommendations through 2030 and 2040
Don’t let momentum stall—your leadership matters. Access the full report now to help shape a zero-emission freight future that works for everyone.
About the Author:
Jacob Richard is a technical project manager on the Trucks team at CALSTART and author of the new Zeroing in on Zero-Emission Trucks market update.