"Sales of medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks hit a high in the first half of 2026, mostly thanks to China. Diesel prices are set to keep the momentum going."
"The market for battery-powered trucks may be slowing in the U.S. — but globally it’s a very different story.
Worldwide, sales of medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks hit a record high in the first half of this year, according to research firm BloombergNEF. Nearly 160,000 e-trucks were sold in that time period, up by around 75% from the first half of 2025.
A glance at the chart above reveals that the momentum for electric trucks has been building for years. But spiking diesel prices brought on by the Iran war have only strengthened the case for the vehicles, which are cheaper to operate and maintain but cost more upfront than their fossil-fueled counterparts. The higher the price of fuel, the quicker going electric pays for itself.
China absolutely dominates the market for electric trucks, much as it does with other clean technologies. More than nine out of 10 e-trucks sold worldwide in the first six months of 2026 were in China, which BNEF says has strong policies supporting the shift and an extensive battery supply chain."
