Full Title: Delivering Affordability: The Emerging Cost Advantages Of Battery Electric Heavy-Duty Trucks And U.S. Policy Strategies To Unlock Their Full Potential
Author(s): Chris Busch, Mary Francis Swint, Hussein Basma, and Anish Sinha
Publisher(s): Energy Innovation, The International Council on Clean Transportation
Publication Date: May 23, 2025
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
This report summarizes research finding that battery electric heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) are on track to become the most cost-effective option for freight transport. Across all major vehicle segments, battery electric HDVs are projected to be cheaper on a per- mile basis than diesel models by 2030 in most states, provided policymakers address the factors currently driving new battery electric HDV prices in the United States above international norms. The growing affordability of battery electric HDVs is driven by the faster-than-expected convergence of heavy-duty battery costs with industry-wide average battery prices.1 This shift has the potential to reduce freight costs—delivering economy-wide benefits by easing price pressures across a broad range of goods and services, lowering the cost of living.
Cost parity is a critical milestone, but hardly the end of the story. By 2035, modeled results show battery electric HDVs delivering tens of thousands of dollars in five-year ownership savings compared to diesel models. Such savings would deliver economy-wide benefits: lower freight costs can reduce price pressures across a wide range of goods and services, advancing the goal of a lower cost of living