First deployment of electric trucks begins under new GMA procurement model
In what’s being called ‘the largest known deployment of Class 8 zero-emission trucks’, the move will see 40 Class 8 BBC Freightliner eCascadia day cab trucks operated by Nevoya – a fully-electric logistics carrier which runs over-the-road and drayage services in California, Texas, and Arizona. The trucks are expected to enter operation by the end of 2026, with roll-out continuing into 2027.
The route they’re taking is the product of a collaboration between GMA and the Smart Freight Centre (SFC), which aims to establish an all-electric freight corridor between Houston and Dallas for use by a coalition of global firms including Amazon, eBay, Etsy and Meta. Initially, the vehicles will cover around 7 million miles annually on the route. Public truck charging company Greenlane is providing charging infrastructure for the new fleet by placing DC fast chargers along the route, all of which will be backed by renewable energy through Green-e Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).
The trucks have been introduced through GMA’s ‘book and claim’ approach, which is typically used by shipping companies to account for environmental credits to put towards their sustainability goals. In essence, the aforementioned coalition of companies agreed to purchase RECs through GMA Trucking. Nevoya then deploys its electric Class 8 trucks on the route to generate environmental benefits re emissions reductions, which are then verified by an independent auditor. Participating companies can then claim those benefits towards their sustainability reporting, even if their goods aren’t being physically hauled by the trucks in question.
Nevoya Co-Founder and CCO John Verdon explains that this approach is what ‘enables the financing of the trucks. It helps facilitate the underwriting of the infrastructure build-out, and that ultimately allows us to expand into new markets where customer freight density is still building from an EV perspective’.
GMA CEO Kim Carnahan has argued that it also enables battery-electric trucks to enter operation quickly: “Through a competitive procurement process and advance purchase commitments from leading corporations, we’ve proven a replicable model to get urgently needed zero-emission trucks on the road. With contracts signed, we’re already planning for our next, even bigger procurement.
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