How Is KR 1.4 Tracking?
Trucks matter for net zero; they account for one fourth of transportation emissions. Electrified short-haul trucks are making headway, particularly in Europe and in China, where they accounted for 5 percent of new sales in 2023.
It’s a stiffer challenge to decarbonize medium- and heavy-duty trucks. They require ultra-powerful, lightweight batteries that don’t yet exist. They’ll also need their own specialized charging infrastructure. In the U.S., work is underway to upgrade charging corridors for a handful of routes. Another down-the-road possibility: hydrogen-powered trucks. The hard reality, however, is that heavier trucks will be burning carbon for years to come. If the aim is to cut their emissions in the near term, they must go further per gallon of gas or use more sustainable diesel variants.