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

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.