West Coast leaders launch zero-emissions trucking corridor

Government representatives from British Columbia, three U.S. states (California, Oregon, and Washington), and the Mexican state of Baja California have launched a partnership to develop the British Columbia to Baja California Zero Emissions Vehicle (BC2BC) corridor.

The 2,222-km (approximately 1,381-mile) route follows the Interstate 5 corridor, one of North America’s busiest freight paths, handling between 10,000 and 35,000 trucks daily. The initiative aims to establish interoperable infrastructure, including megawatt charging stations and hydrogen filling stations, to support Class 8 heavy-duty electric trucks. Officials expressed a goal to see zero-emission trucks operating the entire length of the route as early as 2030.

Coordination for the project involves the California State Transportation Agency, the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies, and the non-profit CALSTART. The partnership will focus on defining technical standards, shared policies, and investment planning to ensure seamless movement across jurisdictions. This effort targets the reduction of nitrogen oxide and greenhouse gas emissions, as heavy-duty trucks are significant contributors to air pollution despite representing a small fraction of total vehicles.