Electrifying Trucks and Buses in Nevada

The United States is the world’s largest consumer of petroleum, accounting for one-fifth of global daily supply.
Oil accounts for over 90% of energy use in the U.S. transportation sector. This overwhelming dependence on
oil threatens public health, energy security, our economy, and our climate.

Take Action

Let Governor Sisolak know that you support the effort to electrify Nevada’s trucks and buses. Sign the petition calling on Nevada to join the Multi-State MHD Zero Emission Vehicle Memorandum of Understanding, pledging that at least 30% of all new trucks and buses sold in

An electric truck by Lion Electric
The Lion8 heavy-duty Class 8 electric truck

the state will be zero-emission vehicles by 2030, and 100% by 2050.

Widespread deployment and adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is the best solution to the challenges that result from oil’s monopoly on our transportation sector. Electrification of trucks and buses is a critical part of the transformation, both in Nevada and across the nation. Multiple vehicle manufacturers have committed to full electrification of their product lines, and the federal government has renewed its focus on electrifying transportation. State policy action is needed to leverage this momentum for Nevada. We have a finite window of opportunity to preserve U.S. economic leadership, meaningfully reduce emissions, and protect American manufacturing jobs.

EVs Support Economic Growth

For the State of Nevada, transportation electrification will generate renewed investments, job growth, and
competitiveness in the global automotive market. Robust public investment and regulatory reform along

Two men working in an auto factory
Two workers at the Rivian manufacturing plant in Illinois. Courtesy of Rivian

the EV supply chain has the potential to create more than 500,000 jobs across the United States over a five-year period, according to a report by the Electrification Coalition and Securing America’s Future Energy. Nearly 154,000 of those jobs would stem from incentives that make it less expensive to buy medium- and heavy-duty EVs like trucks and buses. And the United States stands to gain 29,000 jobs through measures to expand charging infrastructure and energy storage.

These are jobs that can be part of Nevada’s future. Auto manufacturers are already reimagining their vehicle portfolios, releasing new electric models, and investing in electric vehicle manufacturing in the United States, including in Nevada.

  • The Tesla Gigafactory, located outside Sparks, Nev., became the highest-volume battery factory in the
    world in 2018. At peak production, the Gigafactory will employ 6,500 people and eventually as many as
    10,000 employees.
  • Volvo North America is producing its VNR Electric Class 8 truck at its plant in Dublin, Va., and the
    company aims for its product range to be “fossil-free” by 2040.
  • Ford has committed to invest $22 billion in EVs through 2025, invested $700 million in its Rouge
    Center to build the electric F-150, and committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
  • GM has committed $27 billion to electrification, with a goal of ending production of vehicles with
    internal combustion engines by 2035. The company is investing $3 billion to produce all-electric
    trucks, SUVs, and electric self-driving vehicles at its Hamtramck, Mich., plant. When the plant is
    fully operational, GM projects it will create 2,200 manufacturing jobs.
  • Arrival, a global EV manufacturer, is establishing its
    North American headquarters in North Carolina and will build its second American “microfactory” there.
  • Ford supported EV manufacturer Rivian with a $500 million investment to build an electric pickup truck.
    And Amazon has ordered 100,000 electric delivery trucks – worth $700 million – from Rivian.

EVs Promote Energy Security

Because the fate of the U.S. economy is so closely tied to petroleum, the United States is forced to expend
tremendous resources to secure the word’s oil supply. The U.S. military spends $81 billion per year to protect oil
infrastructure and oil transit routes.2 In addition to the financial drain, this puts the lives of our servicemembers
at risk to protect the flow of oil. Electricity, on the other hand, is ubiquitous and domestically produced from a diversity of energy sources.

Electricity is also cheaper than gasoline and diesel fuel, and its pricing is far less volatile. According to the U.S.
Energy Information Administration, even though domestic oil production has increased substantially in recent years, the global oil market is still heavily influenced by OPEC, a cartel of 13 petroleum-exporting countries in the Middle East, Africa, and South America.

EVs Advance Public Health and Equity

Vehicles are a leading source of air pollutants that affect human health. Vehicle emissions contribute to the

A little boy steps off an electric bus.
The LionC electric school bus from Lion Electric.

formation of ground-level ozone (smog), which can trigger health problems such as aggravated asthma, reduced
lung capacity, and increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia and bronchitis. Motor
vehicles, particularly those used for freight, are also a major source of fine particulate matter.

Particulate matter is linked to significant health problems, including asthma, chronic bronchitis, and heart attacks.
Long-term exposure is likely to cause lung cancer. Low-income and minority communities are more likely to be
located near highways and other transportation facilities that lead to negative health effects.

According to the American Lung Association, widespread adoption of electric vehicles by 2050 would result in an
estimated savings of $72 billion per year in health costs nationally.4 In Nevada alone, the annual benefits would
include $746 million in avoided health-impact costs, 65 premature deaths avoided, 767 asthma attacks avoided,
and 3,724 lost work days avoided.

EVs Reduce GHG Emissions

Transportation is the single largest source of GHG emissions in the United States. Life cycle GHG emissions

GHG emissions by economic sector: At 29%, the transportation sector is the largest source of GHG emissions.
Courtesy of EPA

of an EV are typically far lower than those of a comparable conventional vehicle. Medium- and heavy-duty
(MHD) vehicles, including delivery trucks, deliver vans, tractor-trailers, transit buses, and school buses, represent approximately 11% of the vehicles on the road, but they produce about 29% of the greenhouse gas emissions that come from vehicles. That’s why the electrification of these vehicles is so critical to addressing
climate change.

Electrification of MHD vehicles will be essential to Nevada’s ability to meet its climate goals. In November
2019, Governor Sisolak directed his administration through Executive Order 2019-22 to develop a coordinated
plan to address climate change and meet Senate Bill 254’s goal of reducing statewide greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions to 28% below 2005 levels by 2025 and 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.

Policies to Advance Electrification of Trucks and Buses

Nevada should join the Multi-State MHD Zero Emission Vehicle Memorandum of Understanding, pledging that at least 30% of all new trucks and buses sold in the state will be zero-emission vehicles by 2030, and 100% by 2050. To meet these commitments, the state should take the following policy actions:

  • Support incentives, utility investments, and state targets that will accelerate the electrification of trucks that travel along our highways and through our neighborhoods to deliver goods to our homes and businesses.
  • Electrify public transit and school buses to provide clean, healthy ways for Nevada’s residents to travel to and from school, work, and home.
  • Invest in the development of MHD charging infrastructure to ensure that Nevada does not miss out on the
    economic opportunities afforded by the electrification of transportation.

Get Plugged In

We’re looking for Nevadans to help us accelerate the adoption of electric trucks and buses. Contact Logan Rains to get involved.

Amy Malaki

Amy Malaki is the Director of Partnerships and Policy at SkyNRG and SkyNRG Americas, pioneering global leaders in sustainable aviation fuel production and supply. Prior to SkyNRG, Amy was the Associate Director for the transportation portfolio at the ClimateWorks Foundation where she developed philanthropic investment strategies to advance a sustainable, equitable and low-carbon mobility system. She also pioneered the organization’s international aviation decarbonization strategy. Prior to that she focused on Asia business development at Better Place, a Silicon Valley electric vehicle network startup. She has a B.A. in Chinese and China studies from the University of Washington and an M.A. in international policy studies (energy and environment) from Stanford University.