GCC accelerates shift to electric trucks to cut freight emissions by 2035

PwC Middle East has recently published a report titled “Driving change – the future of sustainable heavy-duty trucks in the Middle East” which looks into just how important electrification might be in cutting down emissions from road freight in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The report predicts that if there aren’t specific incentives in place, new truck sales in this region could be responsible for over 54 million tonnes of CO₂ each year by 2035. But, interestingly enough, if the GCC accelerates the switch to electric trucks along with cleaner fuels and switches to lower-emission freight methods, emissions could drop by at least 4.7 percent.

Heavy-duty vehicles, it turns out, are a big factor in global carbon emissions — making up roughly 40 percent of transport-related greenhouse gases — mainly because they rely heavily on diesel and are constantly on the road. This is especially urgent in the Middle East, where countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia are setting some pretty ambitious goals to promote clean transportation and electrification, aligned with initiatives like Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy. Decarbonizing heavy transport is critical, because otherwise, the emissions from logistics could undermine larger efforts to combat climate change.

The research by PwC, which looked closely at Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, points out a big hurdle: the availability of electric heavy-duty trucks in the GCC is quite limited — there are about 70 percent fewer models available there compared to Europe. To overcome this, the report emphasizes the need for regional cooperation—things like coordinated policies, incentives, and infrastructure build-out to boost market growth and attract more manufacturers. It also stresses that creating supportive rules and offering subsidies will be key to stimulating demand. Plus, expanding grids and deploying widespread high-power charging stations are essential for making electric trucks practical on the ground. And, as a bonus, integrating renewable energy into these systems can help lower fleet operating costs and improve performance, making them more attractive to operators.

Battery electric trucks, or BEVs, really stand out as a particularly efficient way to decarbonize freight in the region. Based on data collected by PwC and backed up by independent studies, these vehicles convert around 70 percent of the energy from renewables into motion — a much higher efficiency than traditional diesel trucks. This high conversion rate, which is about two to three times better than hydrogen fuel cell trucks, really helps in drastically reducing greenhouse gases. The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) also confirms these findings, showing that battery electric trucks produce a minimum of 63 percent fewer lifetime greenhouse gases than diesel-powered vehicles—even when operating on the current mix of grid electricity, which isn’t fully renewable.

Of course, despite all these advantages, there are still hurdles that electric heavy-duty trucks must overcome. A study by McKinsey focusing on emissions-free trucks in Europe reveals that the current costs of manufacturing electric trucks are roughly 2.5 to 3 times higher than for diesel ones, which slows down widespread adoption. They suggest that electric truck prices need to drop by about half, and that charging costs should decrease by 25 percent, alongside strong investments in extensive charging infrastructure. The scale of this infrastructure isn’t trivial—estimates from the US’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory point out that all this would require large high-power charging networks to keep these vehicles running efficiently on all kinds of routes.

Globally, the trend towards electrification of heavy-duty vehicles is picking up speed. The International Energy Agency’s Global EV Outlook 2023 notes that while electric trucks made up nearly 2 percent of truck sales worldwide in 2022, there’s still a lot of investment and policy support needed to keep this momentum going. China is currently leading the charge in electric truck adoption, which shows how fast things can move when the right conditions are met.

PwC’s report in the Middle East highlights a big strategic opportunity: transitioning to zero-emission trucks could not only help cut emissions but also spark innovation and diversify regional economies, which are key parts of the Gulf’s future development plans. Heiko Seitz, PwC Middle East’s Global Transport and Logistics Leader, mentions that the region’s growing clean energy capacity and solid logistics networks position the GCC well to become a leader in sustainable freight. He adds, “With smarter policies, investments, and the right kind of incentives, zero-emission trucks could soon outpace traditional engines—both for the environment and for business.”

Achieving this, however, calls for a multi-layered, coordinated effort. The report stresses the importance of regional cooperation on regulation, finance, energy strategies, and infrastructure. Solutions should be tailored to the unique climate and logistical needs of the GCC — that means fostering local tech development and making sure electric trucking is both feasible and appealing for the market.

All things considered, while some obstacles remain, embracing battery electric trucks along with cleaner fuels and different freight modes presents a promising path for the GCC to slash freight emissions significantly by 2035. This approach aligns well with the region’s climate commitments and economic visions — it’s a good opportunity to build a cleaner, more resilient transportation system that can support future growth.

Source: Noah Wire Services