Kaleigh Harrison
CALSTART’s 2025 ZET Ahead Dashboard brings a broader and more detailed look at the national
zero-emission landscape. Now tracking 23 states and the District of Columbia, the updated tool incorporates new data for all previously featured states and adds six more: Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, Texas, Georgia, and Florida.
This isn’t just another scorecard—it’s designed as an actionable guide for state leaders, fleet operators, and investors. The dashboard evaluates how state-level decisions are impacting the real-world deployment of
zero-emission trucks, vans, and buses. Users can now see which policies are effectively supporting the transition and where states are falling behind.
Notably,
CALSTART introduces an “Economic Development” lens in this update, offering a deeper analysis of how industrial planning—via tax incentives, workforce pipelines, and strategic investments—can accelerate clean transportation while bolstering regional economies.
The dashboard is built around six core strategy categories: vehicle purchase incentives,
charging/fueling infrastructure, innovative pilot programs, long-term fleet planning, clear targets and regulations, and now, economic development. Together, these factors provide a holistic view of what drives sustainable fleet transformation.
CALSTART’s aim is clear: support policymakers in moving from policy commitment to real progress, with scalable programs that can survive funding changes and political shifts.
From Emissions to Employment: A Dual-Focus on Climate and Economy
With the inclusion of the Economic Development category, CALSTART highlights how zero-emission transportation strategies are evolving to include long-term job growth and local economic resilience—not just environmental benchmarks.
The dashboard shows that states aligning their clean transportation policies with workforce development and industrial growth are in a stronger position to attract investment and scale production. That includes expanding programs for training and upskilling workers in local installation, maintenance, and logistics roles—areas of the ZEV transition that often remain close to home and benefit regional job markets directly.
The 2025 data also shows a shift in adoption patterns. Previously led by coastal states, the zero-emission push is gaining momentum across more diverse regions. States in the Midwest, South, and Southwest are now rolling out clean truck and bus programs—driven by a combination of supportive policy, growing market interest, and public-private investment.
Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles account for less than 5% of vehicles on U.S. roads, yet produce a substantial portion of transportation emissions. As CALSTART’s updated dashboard illustrates, the pathway to reducing these emissions can also be a strategy for economic growth—especially for states willing to integrate energy, mobility, and workforce strategies into a single roadmap.
