California, Washington, and Wisconsin Lead in Zero-Emission Truck Adoption

CALSTART's biannual Zeroing in on Zero-Emission Trucks (ZETs) report shows steady growth in ZET deployments nationwide, with California, Washington, and Wisconsin leading the way.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 12:47am

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CALSTART, a national clean transportation accelerator, has released an update to its biannual Zeroing in on Zero-Emission Trucks (ZETs) report, which details the number of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles deployed in the United States as of June 2025. The report shows that cumulative ZET deployments reached more than 59,000 nationwide, with California, Washington, and Wisconsin leading in adoption when normalized for truck stock.

Why it matters

The report highlights the importance of state leadership in driving the adoption of zero-emission trucks, which are critical for reducing emissions and improving air quality in the transportation sector. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, manufacturers, and fleet owners as they plan for a zero-emission transportation future.

The details

Key findings in the report include: Cumulative ZET deployments reached more than 59,000 nationwide, with approximately 6,526 added in the first 6 months of 2025 - a 49.2% year-over-year decline. Non-cargo-van segments added 1,152 new ZETs, exceeding their 2-year average. Medium-duty trucks achieved 311 deployments, a 61% increase compared to 2024. When normalized for truck stock, California (2.11), Washington (0.89), and Wisconsin (0.83) lead as the top three states for ZET adoption. Cargo vans recorded 5,374 new deployments, down from an average of 11,000 every 6 months over the past 2 years. Yard tractors reached 300 new deployments, a 36% year-over-year increase.

  • As of June 2025, cumulative ZET deployments reached more than 59,000 nationwide.

The players

CALSTART

A national clean transportation accelerator that released the update of its biannual Zeroing in on Zero-Emission Trucks (ZETs) report.

Tor Larson

Vice President of Trucks and Off-Road at CALSTART.

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What they’re saying

“This update shows that ZETs are no longer a future concept — they are here, scaling and delivering results where states have taken decisive action.”

— Tor Larson, Vice President of Trucks and Off-Road at CALSTART

What’s next

States, utilities, and industry partners can overcome challenges and maintain momentum by: (1) accessing the best global practices to determine innovative approaches that could be effective for the United States; (2) using a wide range of tools for accelerating adoption like CALSTART's ZET Ahead Dashboard; and (3) funding vehicle and infrastructure incentive programs, including utility make-ready programs, to offset high purchase costs.

The takeaway

The progress seen in ZET adoption is driven by clear policy signals, smart incentives, and close coordination between fleets, manufacturers, utilities, and governments. Continued investment in vehicle and infrastructure solutions that lower upfront costs and give fleets the confidence to transition will be crucial to sustaining and accelerating this momentum nationwide.