Biden administration releases strategy for electrifying heavy trucks

The transportation sector is the biggest contributor to greenhouse-gas emissions in the US. Medium- and heavy-duty trucks account for nearly a quarter of those emissions.

Enter the Biden administration’s newly unveiled strategy for electrifying the US freight industry.

The National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy spells out a four-phase plan for establishing a charging and refueling network for medium- and heavy-duty trucks by 2040.

The first phase calls for establishing infrastructure along 12,000 miles of roads, targeting the busiest freight routes first as well as several key ports, through 2027. It includes I-5, I-10, I-25, I-75, and I-95, plus the “Texas Triangle” of I-10, I-45, and I-35.

From there, the strategy focuses on connecting hubs along “critical freight corridors,” expanding the network, and having the national network built out by 2040. It centers on two clean-energy technologies: battery-electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells.

The administration’s goal is for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to make up at least 30% of sales by 2030 and 100% by 2040. To achieve that, “the freight industry will need expansive and convenient access to electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling along freight corridors, at intermodal freight facilities, and high-usage ports,” per the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, which is leading the effort.

In a news release, Ali Zaidi, President Biden’s national climate advisor, called it a “big move to deliver environmental justice,” noting that “75% of heavy truck traffic travels on just 4%” of roads.

Environmental and industry groups applauded the plan, while some experts highlighted outstanding questions, particularly about the impact on the already stressed electric grid.

“Establishing zero-emission freight hubs and corridors will help achieve cleaner air for the communities that need it most and break away from the legacy of a polluting goods movement in the US,” Katherine García, the Sierra Club Clean Transportation for All director, said in a statement.

David Fialkov, EVP of government affairs for NATSO, which represents truck stops and travel plazas, said in a statement that he was pleased that the plan reflected some of the freight industry’s concerns.

“Many challenges exist to electrifying commercial trucks, including electricity generation and access as well as the need for fuel retailers to generate a return on investment,” he said. “We appreciate that the Biden Administration has recognized some of these concerns and appears to have developed an iterative and thoughtful approach to directing investment in a medium and heavy-duty charging network.”

Jesse LeCavalier, an expert in infrastructure planning at Cornell University, said in a statement provided by the school’s press office that “one of the larger issues is where the source of the power is coming from,” noting increased demand on the power grid and the need for zero-emissions vehicles to be powered by clean energy.