Today Canada’s heavy trucking industry is entirely dependent on the burning of diesel fuel. Replacing diesel with low-carbon technologies still in development like hydrogen fuel cell, battery electric or catenary trucks could address GHG emissions as well as eliminating conventional air pollutants.
At present manufacturers and fleet managers face limited incentives to move away from diesel trucks. Vehicles are still at an early production phase, purchasing costs are high, and fueling infrastructure is absent. Coordinated action and multiple policy initiatives will be required to drive heavy road transport beyond this nascent phase.