How Clean Fleets Support Climate Action Plans
Climate change’s effects are present every day, calling for immediate and comprehensive action. Renewable energy and sustainable agriculture are often at the forefront of these operations. However, actual change will require the resolve of multiple industries. For the transportation sector, it’s essential to examine the design and implementation of clean fleets.
The Urgency Behind Climate Action Plans
Climate action is necessary to scale back on climate change’s effects, from hotter temperatures to increased drought. Air quality is also a top concern, with 46% of Americans living in areas with unhealthy ozone levels and particle pollution in 2025. That’s 25 million more people than in 2024.
Many areas have developed and implemented their frameworks to reduce their carbon footprints. Sixteen states have released a Priority Climate Action Plan, which warrants aid from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program. Nearly $5 billion in grants are used for implementation-ready solutions that can create impact.
Zooming out from a government level, businesses and establishments are also modifying their products and activities to achieve further sustainability. Some focus on using carbon offsets and restoration, while others aim for carbon neutrality to achieve long-term improvements.
What Are Clean Fleets?
Clean fleets refer to vehicles that utilize eco-friendly technologies to transport commercial goods and services. These can range from electric trucks to biodiesel-powered planes. The goal of these units is to create a positive environmental impact, primarily focusing on achieving carbon neutrality.
Transportation can be quite a contributor to emissions, making it an important sector to transform. The market for green logistics was around $1,507 billion in 2024, and it’s only set to increase as more people incorporate these solutions into their climate action plans.
The beauty of clean fleets is that they can still accomplish everything that a fossil-fuel-powered set of vehicles can, from transporting goods to moving employees and much more. Reducing dependence on diesel can also lead to lower operating costs, resulting in more long-term savings.
Clean fleets can promote investment within the clean energy sector. After all, automakers can also extend their fleets and lease vehicles to hopeful EV drivers at a discount. Aside from helping other humans and improving their quality of life, this spreads the word about clean energy.
Keeping Clean Fleets In Check
Clean fleets play a crucial role in the success and implementation of climate action plans. Keeping these units well-maintained is essential to minimizing emissions. For instance, battery-powered electric vehicles should have optimal battery health and avoid getting fully drained. Facility charging allows them to charge overnight or when idle.
Fleet managers should also schedule maintenance to mitigate sudden breakdowns. How people operate machinery can affect the optimal frequency of fleet maintenance. If a unit is undergoing too much heavy towing or excessive idling, it’s worth checking it more often than those facing regular conditions.
Clean fleet manufacturers will likely provide further recommendations on maintenance tasks and scheduling that managers can turn to. Some may be more specific to the integral parts of these units, such as the fuel and cooling systems, as well as battery checks.
Specific preventive maintenance measures are similar to those for ordinary fleets. For instance, it’s essential to store a clean fleet in a climate-controlled area to minimize extreme temperatures when not in use. The interior and exterior should also undergo cleaning to remove debris and avoid defects.
Further Efforts to Meet Climate Action With Fleets
Clean fleets are already a key step in bringing climate action plans to life. However, the integration needs to be more specific and intentional. One key way is to develop policies encouraging deployment.
The Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation in California is a good example of a regulation that fast-tracks the existence of a zero-emission truck market. It covers fleet operators with $50 million in gross annual revenue or those handling 50 or more vehicles, as well as high-priority and government fleets.
It also helps to set targets for fleet electrification or the adoption of alternative fuels. While clean fleets are slowly becoming the norm, many fossil fuel-powered machines remain. European cities aim to achieve 100% urban fleet electrification by 2030, partly by transitioning to fully electric vehicles for longer-distance trips before making them the norm for every ride.
Challenges to Address
Mitigating climate change through innovative transportation can be fulfilling, but there are challenges to be addressed. For instance, limited manufacturing for automakers and expensive upfront costs for car buyers can slow down implementation. Some governments are resolving this through incentives and subsidies.
There’s also the matter of infrastructure limitations. Certain areas still lack adequate charging stations that would help clean fleets refuel after operations. While private companies can install their facilities, having them in public places can be encouraging for individual drivers who may be hesitant about investing.
Some people may need to adjust to using clean fleets and making them the norm. Training and technological advancements can also help increase convenience, making it easier for more people to adopt these changes.
Be Purposeful with Transportation
The transportation sector must collaborate and innovate for change, and clean fleets are a critical contributor to a sustainable future. Integrate them into climate action plans to drive emission reductions and help out the environment.
Jack Shaw is the senior editor of the men’s lifestyle magazine Modded and has written extensively about electric vehicles, sustainable practices, and maintaining a green lifestyle through your everyday actions. His writing can be found in Green Living Journal, Packaging Digest, EcoHotels, and more. Connect with him via his LinkedIn.