Heavy Trucks Go Green in Major Eco Shift

China is rapidly replacing diesel trucks with electric models, cutting fuel use and emissions in one of the world’s largest freight markets.

“This transition is moving faster than many expected and could permanently reshape demand for diesel and gas,” said Christopher Doleman, energy analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

Electric trucks accounted for about 22% of new heavy truck sales in the first half of 2025, up from just 9% a year earlier, and are forecast to reach around 46% of new sales by the end of the year. Falling battery costs, strong efficiency gains and government incentives have made electric trucks cheaper to operate over their lifetime, delivering savings of up to 26% compared with diesel. As heavy road freight accounts for roughly a third of global transport-related carbon emissions, this shift signals a significant step toward cleaner logistics, with global implications for fuel markets.