How Governments Can Bring Low-Emission Trucks to Our Roads – and Fast
Heavy diesel trucks emit nearly three-quarters of all CO2 from freight transport. They are also among the most difficult vehicle types to power with sustainable fuels. This report reviews which emerging technologies show the most promise to drastically cut road freight emissions. It also proposes an approach for governments to decide which technologies deserve support – and thus to speed up the urgent transition to clean trucking.
Policy Insights
- Now or never. Given the urgency of the climate crisis, governments cannot let technological uncertainty be a barrier to action.
- Assess the likelihood. Governments need to carefully assess the likelihoods with which different technologies will deliver effective climate action. They must promote the most likely technologies, even with uncertainty.
- Bet on batteries. Battery-electric vehicles currently have the highest likelihood of successfully decarbonising road transport.
| Date of Publication | 14 December 2023 |
|---|---|
| Number of Pages | 32 |
| OECD iLibrary Link | https://doi.org/10.1787/80680242-en |
| Document |
 low-emission-trucks.pdf |
| Publication Type | Case-Specific Policy Analysis |
| Publisher | OECD Publishing, Paris |