Ready for Work 2.0

The document highlights that while medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) make up only about 10% of US on-road vehicles, they contribute over half of fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions. It reports an exponential increase in zero-emission MHDV registrations from under 1,000 in 2019 to over 27,000 in 2023. The analysis finds that over 85% of MHDVs travel fewer than 100 miles daily, making them suitable for current battery-electric technology. While operational costs for electric trucks are lower, up-front costs remain a barrier for larger models, necessitating continued state and federal policy support and the expansion of charging infrastructure along freight corridors.

• Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) produce a disproportionate amount of pollution relative to their presence on the road, accounting for over 50% of nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter, and nearly 30% of climate-warming emissions from all on-road vehicles.
• Truck pollution causes severe health issues, including premature deaths and respiratory illnesses, which disproportionately affect communities located near freight hubs such as ports, warehouses, and railyards.
• The adoption of zero-emission MHDVs in the United States has grown exponentially, with new registrations increasing from fewer than 1,000 in 2019 to more than 27,000 in 2023.
• Current battery-electric truck (BET) technology is sufficient for the majority of MHDV needs, as over 85% of these vehicles travel less than 100 miles per day.
• While battery-electric trucks offer lower operating costs and can have a lower total cost of ownership than combustion models, higher up-front costs persist, particularly for larger electric truck models in the US market.
• The deployment of regional- and long-haul electric tractor trucks depends on the development of reliable charging infrastructure at freight hubs and along corridors, supported by new industry standards for 'megawatt' charging.
• State and federal policies, including emissions standards and purchase incentives, are essential to drive competition, reduce up-front costs, and accelerate the transition to zero-emission freight.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2025). Ready for Work 2.0. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2026-07/ready-for-work-2-executive-summary_1.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Ready for Work 2.0. 2025. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2026-07/ready-for-work-2-executive-summary_1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Ready for Work 2.0 |date=February 2025 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2026-07/ready-for-work-2-executive-summary_1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2025ready, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Ready for Work 2.0}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2026-07/ready-for-work-2-executive-summary_1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }