Rise of Zero-Emission Heavy-Duty Vehicles in the United States
Key Ideas
  • Registrations of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles in the US saw significant growth from 2021 to 2023, with ZE-HDVs accounting for a small but increasing share of the market.
  • Leading manufacturers like Traton and Daimler are becoming dominant players in the zero-emission bus market, particularly through the production of electric school buses.
  • Hydrogen fuel-cell trucks started to be sold in 2023, indicating a potential shift towards diverse zero-emission powertrains in the heavy-duty vehicle market.
  • Despite the growth, the US market lags behind China and the EU in zero-emission vehicle sales, showcasing room for further development and adoption of green technologies.
New registrations of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles in the United States have shown a remarkable increase from 200 in 2021 to 1,600 in 2023. While this growth is significant, zero-emission vehicles still represent a small fraction of the overall market, with ZE-HDVs accounting for 0.30% of all registrations in 2023. The heavy-duty truck segment was a major contributor to this growth. However, the US market still trails behind China and the European Union, where sales of ZE-HDVs are much higher. In the bus segment, registrations of zero-emission buses also experienced a surge, reaching around 590 in 2023. Traton and Daimler emerged as key players in this market, manufacturing battery electric school buses that have driven their success in this sector. The buses sold in the US showcased a mix of battery chemistries, with capacities ranging from 100 kWh to over 400 kWh. On the truck side, zero-emission heavy-duty truck registrations quadrupled from 2022 to 2023, while medium-duty truck registrations remained steady. Notably, hydrogen fuel-cell trucks entered the market in 2023, alongside battery electric trucks, hinting at a shift in powertrain technologies. Despite challenges in data collection and manufacturer information, industry leaders like Daimler, Traton, and Paccar have started to make a significant impact on the zero-emission truck market. The data highlights potential opportunities for further growth and diversification in the zero-emission vehicle sector in the United States.
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