Work

Electrifying long-haul freight trucks reduces societal costs in the United States

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Electrifying long-haul heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) entails high private costs but offers substantial reductions in external costs by substituting diesel combustion with electricity generation. We combine technoeconomic analysis and life-cycle assessment of lithium-ion battery electric (BE) and diesel HDVs to estimate total private costs and monetized climate and health damages in the United States. In 2025, BE-HDVs are estimated to have 46% higher private costs ($0.71 mile⁻¹) than diesel trucks, decreasing to 33% ($0.52 mile⁻¹) by 2035. However, their external costs are 64-69% lower in 2025 and 70-80% lower in 2035. Overall, BE-HDVs yield positive net societal benefits by 2035, contingent on policies that accelerate their adoption.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-67161-1

Authors: Jason Porzio, Wilson McNeil, Fan Tong, Scott Moura, Maximilian Auffhammer, Corinne D. Scown

Institutions: University of California, Berkeley, Peking University, Beihang University, National Bureau of Economic Research

Language: English

Topic: Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Climate action, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $6,990