If the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow taught us anything, it’s that the climate crisis is already upon us and that it will take a worldwide effort to realize climate stabilization. The Glasgow Climate Pact, agreed upon at the conference, firmed up the global commitment to accelerate action on climate this decade. One-hundred-and-forty-six countries signed the pact, and we heard dramatic proclamations from the biggest polluters, including the United States, India, and even (in absentia) China.
But the true takeaway from COP26 can be summed up by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who said, “[The pact] is an important step, but it is not enough.” Indeed, governments can set the targets and incentives, but private technology, investment, and ingenuity are the indispensable parts of the climate solution.
Take the unmitigated threat from freight. According to MIT, the trucks, planes, ships, and trains that carry billions of tons of cargo around the world each year make up 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and as much as 11 percent of warehouses and ports are included. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, within the transportation sector, freight movement accounts for 27 percent of transportation GHG emissions, with the majority of emissions generated by trucking. Energy use and GHG emissions from freight transportation have grown at roughly twice the rate of passenger transportation emissions over the last 15 years. That is an extraordinary impact.
The good news is we already have the technology and the capability to reverse this trend.
Nations all over the world are witnessing the surge in electric vehicles. In fact, every major car company in the world — from Toyota to Rolls-Royce to GM to Tesla — is producing an EV next year. You will recall President Joe Biden was in an electric Hummer in Detroit only a few weeks ago to highlight his $1 trillion infrastructure plan — which includes billions in funding for a new network of electric charging stations, a true confirmation of the transition to EV. But freight trucks have somehow been lost in the electrification spotlight, despite the role of freight in contributing to GHG and the fact that around the holidays, when we see freight trucks more than ever, we can appreciate the demands we make upon drivers and the centrality of their vehicles to the supply chain. So why haven’t e-trucks taken off yet?
A global study by Deloitte confirmed that — despite the advancements in battery technology — one of the biggest concerns about EVs relates to driving range. This is also relevant to freight trucks. The real value in electrifying freight is in delivering zero emissions at a lower total cost of ownership while ensuring vehicle range and reliability. Some e-trucks, like Tevva’s, combine battery power with other renewable energy sources, in this case hydrogen through a small onboard fuel cell, to deliver a viable longer-range solution. By combining technologies, these e-trucks can haul heavier cargo over longer distances — and give freight operators full confidence to adopt and deploy new technologies across all duty cycles.
Freight fleet operators can contribute further to carbon reduction, particularly in cities, by adopting better routes and optimizing their energy consumption. Technology has a role to play here. By using software, e-trucks can have predictive range and routing capabilities that can reduce daily energy consumption and minimize their impact on the planet — while also lowering energy costs for fleet operators. Industry gains can also be made through carbon reduction initiatives such as delivery consolidation hubs and optimizing vehicle load to prevent lots of small commercial vehicles doing the job of a single larger vehicle. This type of logistical restructuring is long overdue. But with truck technologies now available to make immediate strides in our fight toward zero-emission freight, we can empower truckers to drive climate action.
Brian F. Keane is the president of SmartPower. Asher Bennett is the CEO of Tevva Motors.