China ZE trucks reach record market share of 20.9% in Dec 2024

FAW Jiefang J6L pure electric tractor (Photo: FAW)

The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) has released a report looking at sales in China of zero-emission medium- and heavy duty vehicles (ZE-MHDVs) over 2024.

The report puts forward that while sales of battery-electric (BE) buses has been slowing, primarily due to market saturation. On the other hand, sale of BE trucks has been on the rise.

According to the ICCT, sales of both BE and fuel cell trucks increased over 2024, with sales of battery-electric units peaking at 14,700 units in December. The figure represented a new market share high of 20.9%.

Trucks powered by natural gas (LNG/CNG) were also popular, making up 29% of total sales across the year.

As sales of ZE-MHDVs have increased, figures for diesel trucks have dropped. In 2023, diesel volumes made up 70% of the market; in 2024, this fell to 57%.

The market share of the top five OEMs producing trucks with internal combustion engines (FAW, Dongfeng Motor, Foton-Daimler, Shaanxi Auto and Sinotruk/CNHTC) reached 75%. This compares to a 54% share of the BE market for the five leading OEMs (XCMG, Sany, FAW, Hunan Truck and Shaanxi Auto).

The ICCT report suggests this indicates the zero-emission heavy-truck market is reaching a similar level of market maturity with ICE trucks.

Lithium iron phosphate batteries continue to dominate the heavy truck market in China. The most popular energy storage levels over 2024 were 282, 350 and 423 kWh, indicating a balance between cost and efficiency.

Diesel still dominated the medium truck market in 2024 with 81% of market share. BE models took 14% of the market. That said, monthly market share between January and December increased three-fold to where it reached 22% at the end of 2024.

A total of 1,710 fuel cell trucks were sold over the 2024, indicating the tech is still in the early stages of market development.

Click here for more details from the ICCT report.