Promoting battery-electric trucks through freight decarbonization policy in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor

Abstract

The freight transport sector in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to its heavy dependence on diesel trucks. This study offers a scenario-based analysis of battery-electric truck (BET) deployment as a way to reduce emissions in the freight sector by 2030. Using official vehicle registration data, projected growth rates, and emission factors based on IPCC guidelines, three future scenarios are analyzed: A business-as-usual (BAU) case, a likely case assuming 30% BET adoption, and an extreme case assuming 50% adoption. Results show that emissions are expected to increase from 4.36 MtCO2e to 5.17 MtCO2e under the BAU scenario, while the probable and extreme BET scenarios could cut emissions to 3.62 and 2.58 MtCO2e, respectively. The study also provides policy recommendations for each scenario, including financial incentives, investment in fast-charging infrastructure, zero-emission vehicle mandates, and grid integration strategies. These findings offer data-driven insights to support Thailand’s transition to low-carbon freight and highlight the EEC’s potential to serve as a model for sustainable logistics development across Southeast Asia.