NetZero Insider’s transportation coverage from the past week was led by a story by Hugh Morley on a pilot project in New Jersey aimed at researching the feasibility of hydrogen fuel-cell trucks. The state will provide money for Rutgers University to buy six hydrogen-fueled trucks to operate at the Port of New York and New Jersey.
The state also is opening the first publicly accessible heavy-duty truck chargers at the port, which is located in a densely populated area and is a major source of pollution and emissions. The four DC fast chargers will support drayage trucks moving shipping containers in and out of the port.
Companies focused on heavy duty decarbonization have faced significant struggles in the past year, with several high-profile startups closing operations. Massachusetts recently announced it is delaying enforcement of electric truck requirements due to worries about a limited supply of clean trucks available to meet the requirements.
USA Today reported that General Motors has halted production of delivery vans in Ontario as it struggles with excess inventory due to lower-than-expected demand. Unfavorable economics and a lack of charging infrastructure in the US have contributed to the slow sales, one expert said.
In other electric vehicle news, industry-wide US EV sales increased 11% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025. Chevrolet, BMW, and Toyota all recorded significant sales increases. Meanwhile, Tesla sales declined, dropping nearly 9% in the U.S. and 13% globally. Mercedes-Benz and Rivian also struggled.
Looking forward, this progress may be hurt by new duties on imports and the potential repeal of the $7,500 consumer tax credit. According to Motortrend, the elimination of similar incentives in Germany at the end of 2023 has caused a large decline in German EV sales. However, a repeal of the EV tax credit appears unlikely to be imminent and may be somewhat offset by increased state incentives and the declining cost gap between electric and internal combustion vehicles.
Finally, in shipping news, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed to introduce a sector-wide carbon tax, with the approval of more than 60 member states. The U.S. declined to participate in the negotiations and decried efforts to impose a tax on carbon. Advocates for strict emissions regulations, including representatives from small island nations, argued that the agreement is not strong enough to push shipping companies to adopt clean technologies.
While the IMO has set a goal of reducing emissions by 20%-30% by 2030, researchers at University College London estimated the mechanism would reduce emissions by only 8%-10%. A representative of the island nation Vanuatu blamed oil producing countries, including the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, for blocking progress, and decried the agreement’s failure to provide meaningful funding for climate resilience in poorer countries.
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