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The Electrification Coalition (EC) and Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) have launched an initiative to develop a commercial freight and goods delivery pilot project that helps companies overcome real-world challenges and effectively deploy medium and heavy-duty electric vehicles. The EC is working closely with corporate partners and program stakeholders to identify challenges and barriers to electrification, best practices and policy opportunities that support successful deployment and operation, and opportunities to scale electrification across the freight and goods delivery industry.
Over the last few years, the EC has supported the freight electrification pilot projects of several large national and international companies (‘pilot partners’). This new report details our findings, highlighting the challenges pilot projects are likely to encounter and providing informed recommendations to ensure the project’s success.
Through focused engagement with stakeholders throughout the freight and goods delivery industry, SAFE and the EC have found that there is near-term interest from commercial vehicle operators, such as delivery and logistics companies, in medium- and heavy-duty EVs (MHDEVs). As the proliferation of e-commerce continues to increase the demand for their services, these companies are beginning to seriously evaluate the potential for integrating MHDEVs into their fleets.
SAFE and the EC believe that the electrification of freight and goods delivery will play an integral role in reducing the economic and national security dangers posed by oil dependence, but widespread adoption will take decades to achieve unless supportive policies are implemented and lessons learned from early deployment projects can be widely shared. We have an extensive track record of effective on-the-ground deployment initiatives and in producing insightful policy reports with well-thought out policy recommendations. This experience is being leveraged for this project to broaden the scope of an electrified transportation system, inclusive of freight and goods delivery vehicles.
To maximize program impacts, the EC and SAFE are already looking for ways to expand the program and its impacts. This includes seeking funding to support the program on an ongoing basis, attending, and speaking at conferences related to medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and freight.
We have documented the experience and created a case study report (linked above) to be shared with other advocates, state and regional policymakers, including the PUCs, and industry including other commercial fleets, vehicle lease companies, utilities etc.
The next stages of the project are still in development, but we plan on releasing a report on our ongoing work with shippers and independent owner-operators. Stay tuned for the announcement of webinars which will bring together stakeholders from across the freight value chain to facilitate information sharing and program development.
The EC Freight and Goods Delivery Electrification Project advances the electrification of the freight industry in the U.S. through pilots and policies that will help accelerate the transition.
Now is the time for freight and goods delivery stakeholders to take measured actions and reduce our nation’s dependence on oil by electrifying our freight sector.
The EC provides tools to bring the trucking industry, policymakers, and utilities together to shift electric trucks into high gear.
© 2023 ELECTRIFICATION COALITION
Amy Malaki is the Director of Partnerships and Policy at SkyNRG and SkyNRG Americas, pioneering global leaders in sustainable aviation fuel production and supply. Prior to SkyNRG, Amy was the Associate Director for the transportation portfolio at the ClimateWorks Foundation where she developed philanthropic investment strategies to advance a sustainable, equitable and low-carbon mobility system. She also pioneered the organization’s international aviation decarbonization strategy. Prior to that she focused on Asia business development at Better Place, a Silicon Valley electric vehicle network startup. She has a B.A. in Chinese and China studies from the University of Washington and an M.A. in international policy studies (energy and environment) from Stanford University.