A new virtual hub aims to make it easier for small fleets to transition to zero-emission vehicles. Calstart, a California-based nonprofit devoted to clean transportation solutions, launched Transforming Trucks; Transforming Communities, a one-stop-shop featuring news, resources, and tools it said are aimed at small fleets.

Small fleets make up the vast majority of commercial vehicles on the road today, yet they haven’t been adequately represented in zero-emissions incentive programs that are jumpstarting the transition for commercial trucks in California, Calstart said. Not only do small fleet owners face high costs and extensive planning, there’s also a huge gap in education around the benefits of the transition, what the process looks like, and what’s actually possible for a successfully transitioned fleet.

The website will be updated continually to feature the latest zero-emissions vehicle industry news and provide educational information about electric trucks, how they work, where to find them, and how to implement them into small fleets today. As the platform matures, Calstart will feature fleet electrification success stories.

“Most commercial trucking fleets in the U.S. are small businesses, yet most of the news and information circulating about zero-emissions trucks is geared toward large, well-funded fleets,” said Niki Okuk, deputy director of CALSTART. “Transforming Trucks, Transforming Communities is designed to close that information gap and make the ZEV news relevant to small- and medium-sized fleets much easier to find and act on.”

Available tools include:

• Total Cost of Ownership Calculator: Easy-to-use tool that uses current diesel truck information to predict fleet savings and return on investment for electric trucks.

• Funding Finder: California-specific tool to help fleets find local, state, and utility incentives based on their location and truck types.

• Infrastructure Planning Tools: Guides and toolkits to help small business owners sort through their options for installing chargers and fueling zero-emission trucks. 

“As the state continues to raise the bar with ambitious zero-emission freight goals, we have to remember that truck drivers and operators in our neighborhoods are often minority small business owners who need and deserve additional resources to be part of this industry transformation. Too often we are left behind,” said Okuk, who is leading the project within Calstart and is a former small fleet owner herself.