Global Commercial Drive to Zero™ Program and Electrification Partners Charge Up the Crowd at CEM15/MI-9 with Project Announcements

A co-hosted side event introduced an African green road corridor, a working paper, clean transport video series, and new Global MOU endorsers

The Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation Meeting (CEM15/MI-9), CALSTART’s Drive to Zero program and key partners announced Africa’s Northern Corridor as the ninth corridor of the Global Green Road Corridors (GGRC) initiative. The GGRC initiative has now established nine of 10 vital routes that connect industrial hubs, ports, and cities as replicable models to spur global zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicle (ZE-MHDV) infrastructure deployment. The initiative takes an ecosystem approach, rallying stakeholders across transport and energy sectors to work together to transform the movement of people and goods. It also aids the pursuit of the goals set out by the Global Memorandum of Understanding (Global MOU) on ZE-MHDVs, which seeks to achieve 100 percent ZE new MHDV sales by 2040, with an interim goal of 30 percent by 2030.

Africa’s Northern Corridor connects nations including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo with the Port of Mombasa in Kenya, the busiest port in East and Central Africa. Last year, sustainable freight transport implementation challenges, including low public awareness, lack of expertise, and limited funding, led to the development of the Northern Corridor Green Freight Strategy 2030. The Strategy, which was developed by the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA), in partnership with UNEP (CCAC), Smart Freight Centre (SFC), and Kuhne Foundation (KF), is guided by the goal of advancing sustainable and climate-resilient solutions along this critical East African trade route. NCTTCA’s decision to join the GGRC initiative emphasizes its commitment to developing publicly available infrastructure and enabling the adoption of ZE-MHDVs within the Northern Corridor.

“The strategy has established priority actions to deliver on set targets, which include green freight capacity building initiative; driver and fleet manager training schemes; establishment of a green freight transport network; operationalizing emission quantification methodology; advocating for modal shift; climate resilient corridor initiative; and regulating the import of old inefficient trucks. NCTTCA aspires to become a Net-Zero Emission Corridor by 2050 and welcomes partners in the green freight transport and logistics to jointly implement the Northern Corridor Green Freight Strategy 2030,” said Dr. Eng John Deng Diar Diing, NCTTCA Executive Secretary.

“Globally aligned zero-emission truck and bus ambition, enabling regulations, and high-impact projects—like corridors—are the key elements to accelerate transformation to a decarbonized economy with commercial transport leading the way,” said Stephanie Kodish, Global Director for Drive to Zero. “Combined with the action plan set forth by the Northern Corridor Green Freight Strategy 2030, our network of governments, industry, and knowledge partners are thrilled to welcome Africa’s Northern Corridor to the Global Green Road Corridors initiative. The addition of this corridor will meaningfully advance sustainable goods movement along this high-volume route on the continent while showcasing a model of governance, collaboration, and actions that will help guide the world along our decarbonization journey.”

Additionally, a working paper about conditions for success of green road corridors was presented during the event. Authored by Adrian Serna Tamez of Drive to Zero and noted global ZE transport strategist Bill Van Amburg, this paper was informed by input from leading commercial transport experts. It outlines what is needed to decarbonize MHDV fleets that travel the world’s major road corridors—particularly regional and long-haul segments, which are responsible for approximately 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, urban nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. The paper includes the seven key factors critical for achieving this goal and initial recommendations for governments to effectively launch, develop, and operate green road corridors.

Furthermore, Drive to Zero announced a video series called Charging Up Change and introduced its first episode, which was filmed in São Paulo, Brazil. The video series features the stories of commercial transport stakeholders who are leading the decarbonization of trucks and buses in different global regions, highlighting the benefits of MHDV electrification for local communities. Each short film features trailblazing companies, NGOs, and sub-national governments that have taken exemplary action to reduce air pollution, fight climate change, and increase jobs. It will be of interest to high-level policymakers, transport- and energy-sector stakeholders, environmentalists, educators, and anyone with an interest in changing the world one mile at a time.  

The first video is available to watch now, featuring captivating stories from Neoenergia, part of the Spanish group Iberdrola; Camila Acosta Camargo, Senior Project Manager of Instituto Ar; Carmen Araujo, Regional Lead, ICCT Brazil; and José Renato Nalini, Executive Secretariat of the City of São Paulo.  

Finally, 40 new endorsers of the Global MOU on ZE-MHDVs were revealed, joining a network of 190 total sub-national governments, manufacturers, infrastructure providers, and knowledge partners to support the pledge:

Agencia Municipal de Energía y Cambio Climático de Hermosillo

AMPECO

Association of International Road Transport Carriers in Poland (ZMPD)

Binani Technologies

Chargepoly

Climate Policy Initiative

Coast to Coast Smart e-Mobility

Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)

Eleport

Empresa Municipal de Transportes de Madrid, S.A.

Energy Saving Trust

Ennovation Technology Sp. z o.o.

EquanimityEnergy SA Equator Mobility Kenya Ltd

EV Volta

Forum Mobility

Green Finance Institute

GREENROUTER SRL

International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT)

Invest in Latam Brasil Ltda. (Brazil Mobility)

K2 Mobility GmbH

Movin’On

NewVolt

Nijenhuis Truck Solutions B.V.

No Limit Logistics

Oando Clean Energy Limited

OX Rwanda Ltd

Polenergia eMobility Sp. z o.o.

Quantron Polska

Roam

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

Stratus Consult Limited

Subilo Energy

SUN Mobility

Switchlabs Automobiles Private Limited

Transit Intelligence LLP

Transvolt Mobility Private Limited

VARO Energy

Vaultus Green Funding

Zeti

These announcements follow Global MOU signatory commitments from Ethiopia and Mozambique during Africa e-Mobility Week, as the countries join 36 others in signing the ambitious pledge signalling a global vow to fight climate change with green technologies.

“The recent expansion of the Global MOU community to include Ethiopia, Mozambique, and 40 new endorsers and knowledge partners reflects the growing global enthusiasm and urgency around decarbonizing trucks and buses,” said Rosemarie Cramer, Advisor International Sustainable Logistics, Government of the Netherlands. “We look forward to learning from the experience and innovation these countries and organizations bring to the table.” In collaboration with CALSTART, Drive to Zero is working to change transportation for good—globally.

 

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