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Updated: February 6, 2024
In a significant development for America’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) landscape, Powering America’s Commercial Transportation (PACT) officially commenced operations today. This coalition, spearheaded by Daimler Truck North America, Navistar, Inc., and Volvo Group North America, represents a concerted effort to expedite the nationwide rollout of infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) ZEVs. Their launch underscores a pivotal move towards overcoming the existing challenges in ZEV infrastructure access and enhancing national climate policies tailored to M/HD ZEV requirements.
PACT’s foundation rests on the combined strength of its founding members, who notably account for about 70% of new M/HD truck sales in the U.S. Despite the presence of battery-electric vehicles in the market, these manufacturers identify the scarcity of charging infrastructure as a major roadblock to broader technology adoption. The coalition’s membership extends beyond OEMs, welcoming a diverse group of stakeholders including infrastructure developers, electric utilities, grid operators, and others who share a vested interest in accelerating zero-emission commercial vehicle deployment. Founding members also include notable entities such as ABB E-mobility, Burns & McDonnell, BC Hydro, Greenlane™, Prologis Inc., and Voltera.
The United States’ current electrification efforts, primarily focused on light-duty passenger vehicles, differ significantly from the unique demands of M/HD vehicles. To power the nation’s commercial fleet effectively, PACT emphasizes the need for substantial capital investment, electrical grid enhancements, and specialized charging equipment. According to the International Council on Clean Transportation, an estimated 600,000 chargers will be necessary to support the anticipated deployment of 1.1 million Class 4-8 M/HD ZEVs by 2030. This requirement represents a daily electricity consumption of 140,000 megawatt–hours, equating to the monthly energy usage of over 4.9 million American homes.
“Decarbonizing the commercial transportation sector – the fleets that keep America moving – is critical to meeting our nation’s climate goals,” stated John O’Leary, president and CEO of Daimler Truck North America. “But the transition to zero-emission vehicles is stalling without the deployment of the needed charging infrastructure,” O’Leary further emphasized the importance of PACT in accelerating infrastructure development to facilitate widespread ZEV adoption.
Echoing these sentiments, Mathias Carlbaum, president and CEO of Navistar, highlighted the coalition’s role in providing “fast, reliable, affordable, and convenient power” for the effective deployment of ZEV fleets. Stephen Roy, chairman of Volvo Group North America and president of Mack Trucks, also underscored the necessity of understanding and coordination among stakeholders for the swift and cost-effective deployment of chargers.
While championing the cause of commercial ZEV infrastructure, PACT remains neutral regarding specific vehicle, power generation, or utility distribution technologies. Its primary mission is to educate stakeholders on the infrastructure challenges hindering M/HD ZEV market penetration and collaborate on solutions benefiting all parties involved. The coalition is dedicated to advocating practical and efficient infrastructure solutions that can sustain the growing M/HD ZEV deployments.
About Powering America’s Commercial Transportation PACT, the unified voice for M/HD ZEV infrastructure, collaborates with various stakeholders, including OEMs, commercial fleets, infrastructure developers, electric utilities, policymakers, regulators, and NGOs. Committed to advancing America’s zero-emission transportation goals, PACT focuses on the swift deployment of necessary infrastructure across the nation. More information is available at www.pactcoalition.org, with regular updates on LinkedIn and X.
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