What counts as a zero-emission truck?

A truck with no tailpipe CO2: battery-electric or hydrogen fuel-cell. Its emissions move upstream, to producing the electricity or hydrogen, which well-to-wheel accounting still counts.

How many electric trucks are sold?

The IEA puts electric trucks at 9% of global truck sales in 2025, with heavy freight trucks up from about 84,000 to 230,000. China leads at one in four; Europe was 3%, and India about 800 registrations.

Are electric trucks cheaper to run than diesel?

On the IEA's 2025 assumptions, yes: a heavy electric truck uses 800 kWh for 500 km, about $64, against 176 litres of diesel, about $194. They still cost two to three times more to buy.

Term

Zero-emission truck (ZET)

A zero-emission truck has no tailpipe CO2 — in practice a battery-electric or hydrogen fuel-cell truck. Electric trucks reached 9% of global truck sales in 2025, the IEA reports, led by China, where one truck sold in four was electric. The EU requires makers to cut new heavy vehicles' average CO2 45% below 2019 from 2030.

Also called ZET, electric truck, battery electric truck, e-truck, zero-emission HGV, zero-emission heavy-duty vehicleUpdated 13 October 2026

Sales in 2025

Market	Electric trucks in 2025
World	9% of all truck sales; electric heavy freight trucks almost tripled, from about 84,000 to 230,000
China	One truck sold in four
Europe	Nearly 17,000 — 3% of truck sales
North America	20,000
India	About 800 registrations, up from 200 in 2024

IEA Global EV Outlook 2026

Worked example: one day's driving

500 km a day · diesel: 35.2 L per 100 km → 176 L × $1.10 = $193.60, and 176 L × 2.58 kg = 455 kg CO2e from the exhaust · battery-electric: 1.6 kWh per km → 800 kWh × $0.08 = $64, and none from the exhaust

Daily distance, fuel economy and 2025 energy prices are the IEA's assumptions for its heavy-truck cost comparison; the exhaust factor is the UK government's 2026 diesel figure. The electric truck's emissions sit in the electricity it uses — counted well-to-wheel.

Purchase price is where the case stalls. Electric trucks still cost two to three times more to buy than diesel ones, the IEA says, but battery-electric heavy trucks in China have reached cost-of-ownership parity with diesel in some cases after five years, and in Europe parity is expected by 2030. EU countries may also cut or waive road tolls for zero-emission trucks until 30 June 2031, after which the reduction is capped at 75%.

Where the rules stand

EU: Regulation 2024/1610 cuts new heavy vehicles' average CO2 against 2019 by 45% for 2030–2034, 65% for 2035–2039 and 90% from 2040, with a Commission review due by 31 December 2027.
UK: in a January 2026 consultation, the government commits to a path ending sales of new non-zero-emission HGVs up to 26 tonnes by 2035, and all of them by 2040.
US: in February 2026 the EPA finalised the rescission that, in the IEA's words, effectively repeals federal GHG standards for heavy-duty vehicles. Congress disapproved California's Advanced Clean Trucks waiver on 12 June 2025.
California: CARB voted in September 2025 to repeal the parts of its Advanced Clean Fleets rule for federal and private fleets, including drayage trucks; state and local government fleets remain covered.

The mistake people make

Comparing sticker prices. A truck that costs two to three times as much to buy can still be cheaper to own once 800 kWh is set against 176 litres every day it runs — and the answer moves by country, with electricity and diesel prices, tolls and weight limits.

FAQ