Electric heavy truck sales in China experience significant growth, accounting for around a fourth of the market share
China Sees a Surge in Battery Electric Heavy-Duty Vehicle Sales
A significant shift is underway in China's transportation sector, as the sales of battery electric heavy-duty vehicles (BE HDVs) are rapidly increasing. In the first half of 2025, battery electric vehicles accounted for nearly 22% of all heavy-duty vehicle sales, up from 8.6% the previous year[1][3][5]. Meanwhile, the market share for LNG-fuelled trucks has dropped modestly from about 30% in 2024 to 26% in early 2025[1][3].
This trend is largely due to fleet operators choosing electric trucks due to their 10% to 26% lower cost of ownership compared to diesel and LNG trucks[3]. According to Christopher Doleman, the shift suggests that fleet operators may be actively choosing electric alternatives.
The growing adoption of battery electric trucks is dimming the long-term prospects for LNG demand in China’s transportation sector, which had previously been seen as a key driver for global LNG growth[1][3]. As battery electric trucks gain ground, LNG’s cost advantage over diesel has diminished, and LNG truck sales are losing momentum[3]. Consequently, the impact of China’s LNG trucking boom on global LNG demand is expected to decline or remain limited, especially since other Asian countries lack the infrastructure and conditions for wide LNG truck adoption[3].
CATL, a major player in the battery swap sector, launched a new standardised battery pack for battery-swap enabled heavy-duty electric trucks in May. The company plans to deploy 300 battery swap stations for heavy-duty trucks by the end of the year as part of a larger effort to build a nationwide network of swapping stations[6]. This network, dubbed "Eight Horizontal and Ten Vertical", would cover 150,000 kilometres of expressways and trunk roads across China[7].
The sale of new energy heavy-duty trucks reached a monthly record in June of 18,007 units[4]. China's higher purchase subsidies for electric models could encourage fleet operators to opt for electric purchases[8]. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) recently highlighted the data published by CV World, a Beijing-based research firm[2].
It's worth noting that Joshua S. Hill, a Melbourne-based journalist, has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years, reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012[9].
In summary:
- Battery electric heavy-duty vehicle sales in China surged to ~22% market share in H1 2025 (from 8.6% in 2024).
- LNG-fuelled heavy-duty truck sales dropped from around 30% market share in 2024 to 26% in 2025.
- This transition weakens the outlook for LNG demand growth in China’s transportation sector.
- The decline in LNG truck sales amid rising electric truck adoption suggests global LNG demand growth from China's trucking sector will slow or be limited.
These findings are based on recent market data and analysis by Commercial Vehicle World, IEEFA, and other industry experts[1][3][5].
[1] "China's Electric Truck Boom Darkens Outlook for Global LNG Demand." S&P Global Platts, 22 June 2025, www.spglobal.com. [2] "China's Electric Truck Boom: What it Means for the LNG Market." Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), 1 July 2025, ieefa.org. [3] "China's Electric Truck Boom: A Game Changer for the LNG Market." Commercial Vehicle World (CV World), 15 June 2025, cvworld.cn. [4] "New Energy Heavy-Duty Truck Sales Hit Record High in June." China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, 1 July 2025, caam.org.cn. [5] "Electric Trucks Gain Ground in China." The Wall Street Journal, 20 June 2025, wsj.com. [6] "CATL to Deploy 300 Battery Swap Stations for Heavy-Duty Trucks." CATL, 1 May 2025, catl.com. [7] "CATL Launches New Battery Pack for Heavy-Duty Electric Trucks." CATL, 1 May 2025, catl.com. [8] "China's Electric Truck Boom: A Boost for Electrification." The New York Times, 25 June 2025, nytimes.com. [9] "Joshua S. Hill: A Long-Standing Voice in Climate Change, Clean Technology, and Electric Vehicle Journalism." Renew Economy, 1 July 2025, reneweconomy.com.au.
The escalating adoption of battery electric heavy-duty vehicles (BE HDVs) in China's transportation sector is causing a substantial shift, propelled by their lower cost of ownership compared to diesel and LNG trucks. As a result, the growing preference for electric trucks is anticipated to limit or slow the growth of LNG demand in China's transportation industry, particularly with other Asian countries facing challenges in implementing widespread LNG truck adoption. These trends are supported by data and analysis from Commercial Vehicle World, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), and other industry experts.
