What are the key takeaways from the biggest HTUF event ever? Hybrid and advanced truck industry capabilities are growing with expanding competition and multiple technology types and variants. But there is an urgent need to expand the reach of the industry to the “next level” of fleet adopters, beyond today’s first leaders.  And there is an on-going need to keep taking the cost out of the systems.

The EPA has clearly signaled it wants to work with not just the overall truck industry, but with the hybrid and advanced truck segment to encourage continued development and product introduction.  


Margo Oge said that key elements of the EPA’s new carbon and fuel economy rule for trucks will be:
•   to make a “fast start” (rule starting by 2014);
•   to include all classes of trucks;
•   and to encourage new technology.  

EPA is considering “building incentives into the regulation” to do this.

All speakers and panels emphasized the significant need for consistency and smart approaches in policies to support and drive efficiency in transportation.  There was overwhelming support and a consistent call for the need to grow the demand side: purchase assistance for trucks remains key.

There was also a recognition that – like HTUF – we need to focus on a “portfolio of technology” and solutions – not just one.

There will be growing requirements on trucks and truck use, due to emissions, climate and energy issues.  There is, at the same time, an expanding capability of trucks and truck technology, some of it transitioning from heavy transit and bus experience.

The military is increasingly driven by energy security and is signaling it will shift its non-tactical vehicle purchases to hybrid and advanced vehicles.

Looking out ten years forward, there was a strong sense there would be a high penetration of advanced technology in trucks across all vocational applications – assuming policies are put in place to support consistent technology development and purchase assistance in early markets.

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