Guangzhou (JLC), June 26, 2026--Recently, China's eleven government departments jointly issued the Implementation Plan for Promoting the Large-Scale Application of New Energy Heavy-Duty Trucks, clearly defining the development goals of new energy heavy-duty trucks and the supporting implementation policies.
As specified in the plan, new energy heavy-duty trucks refer to heavy-duty freight vehicles with a gross weight of 12 mt or more that use new power systems and entirely or primarily run on new energy.
Goals to be achieved by 2030
The penetration rate of new energy heavy-duty trucks in China will reach 40% by 2030, with the number of vehicles exceeding 1.6 million, which will take up around 20% of all heavy-duty trucks nationwide.
By then, new energy heavy-duty trucks are expected to carry 18% of highway freight volumes. The electrification rate of fixed short-haul transport will surpass 80% in key areas such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Fenwei Plain.
The government will guide and support the construction of about 3,000 charging/swapping stations for heavy-duty trucks to build zero-carbon road transport corridors.
Accelerate refueling facility construction
Under the plan, the country will build a nationwide network of energy refueling facilities for new energy heavy-duty trucks, by leveraging the main transport framework and adapting to local conditions. The country will build 30,000 kilometers of zero-carbon road transport corridors along key expressway sections, with charging/swapping stations, hydrogen refueling stations, and green refueling stations built concurrently with infrastructure upgrades.
Newly built or renovated expressway service areas must either install or reserve space for heavy-duty truck charging/swapping stations. Existing service areas will be retrofitted promptly to increase the number of dedicated heavy-truck charging spaces. Battery-swapping stations must include independent charging capabilities. Integrated "wind-solar-storage-charging-swapping" facilities will be promoted to optimize refueling costs.
The plan will also facilitate the integration of the replenishment network with the power grid and reinforce safety management through mandatory standards, regular inspections, and real-time monitoring.
Increase all-scenario application support
To boost consumption, China will continue the program to scrap and replace aging commercial freight vehicles, prioritizing replacement with new energy heavy-duty trucks. Local governments are encouraged to use economic and technical measures to incentivize purchases and operations of new energy heavy-duty trucks and to relax traffic restrictions accordingly.
The country will accelerate the expansion of applications in trunk-line transportation, continuously strengthen applications in short- to medium-haul transport scenarios, and motivate business model innovation.
Improve operation services and regulatory systems
Market supervision will be strengthened through data sharing, compliance guidance, and fair competition enforcement, while vehicle oversight will be tightened with improved product conformity checks, a safety monitoring platform, and full-lifecycle battery traceability. The after-sales maintenance system will be upgraded, and a used-vehicle appraisal system will be built to facilitate second-hand car trading. Insurance support will be boosted by ensuring full coverage for all operational trucks, optimizing premium pricing, and encouraging safety upgrades.
Strengthen technological innovation and standards development
Research and development on key technologies for new energy heavy-duty trucks, refueling stations, and smart storage systems will be intensified through national programs. Green and digital-intelligent synergy will be accelerated by integrating artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, and modern communications to build a "vehicle-cargo-road-energy-cloud" ecosystem. The plan will promote the formulation and revision of key standards for station construction, station communications, operation services, safety testing, and assessment, while advancing a system of carbon emission accounting and footprint labeling certification.
Enhance implementation safeguards
To reinforce implementation safeguards, the country will ensure land use security, streamline approval procedures, revise the land use quotas for service area construction, and guide local authorities in optimizing supporting policies on planning, land, and other relevant aspects. Financial support will be pooled from various channels to support purchases of new energy heavy-duty trucks and construction of energy refueling facilities. Pilot programs under the national transport strategy will be advanced, and implementation will be coordinated across ministries, provinces, and enterprises.
The promotion of large-scale application of new energy heavy-duty trucks will significantly accelerate the pace of the new energy transition. In the long run, it will exert a sustained downward pressure on diesel demand, which is estimated to drop by 15% by 2030, according to JLC's projection based on the plan's targets.
