EDITORIAL: Zeroing in on zero-carbon fuels

COP27, the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference that took place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, over a two-week span in November, helped bring global attention to the need for significant reductions of climate emissions stemming from transport sectors. Notably, the climate summit saw the United States and at least nine other nations sign a global MOU pledging to support a path to 100% new zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales by 2040, with an interim goal of at least 30% new sales by 2030.

Electrification is at the heart of achieving the MOU's goals. The plan involves targeting “first-success markets” where electrification works now - segments such as buses, terminal tractors and trucks for short regional delivery. From there, the goal is to expand technology development and implementation to other on-highway, off-highway and marine sectors as components mature, volumes grow and costs decrease.