This May, Sierra Club staff and volunteers traveled to Las Vegas for the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, one of the largest gatherings of truck manufacturers, charging companies, fleet operators, and clean transportation advocates in the country. Walking the expo floor offered a glimpse into what a zero-emission future could look like, but it also underscored how much work remains to be done to get there.
We had several Clean Transportation for All staffers attend the Expo this year, including Eric Willadsen coming in from Boise, Idaho and Jennifer Cardenas from Southern California alongside several key transportation volunteers from California as well. Our Las Vegas Chapter Director, Olivia Tanager, also attended and spoke at a press conference hosted outside the Expo with some of our partners from Mom’s Clean Air Force and Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition.
On The Convention Floor
The ACT Expo featured electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks, electric school buses, charging infrastructure, software solutions, and even vehicle components that have now been fully electrified. Compared to just a few years ago, the technology has advanced significantly, and many companies are proving that the transition away from diesel is not only possible, but already underway.
The Good
We were particularly encouraged by conversations with smaller companies and innovators that are fully committed to a zero-emission future. Charging providers showcased a variety of solutions designed to meet different fleet needs, while manufacturers highlighted the growing availability of electric vehicles across multiple sectors. These companies are helping demonstrate that the barriers to electrification are shrinking every year.
Our volunteer leader, Dalinef Leon, was especially impressed by conversations with the electric school bus manufacturer RIDE. The company representatives stressed there is no excuse not to electrify, especially for students in frontline communities. We agree! There is no good reason we should continue to expose children to harmful diesel pollution when clean, electric alternatives are readily available. The technology exists. What is needed now is the political will and investment to ensure these vehicles reach the communities that need them most.
The Bad
At the same time, several troubling trends persisted. It was disappointing to see some manufacturers promoting propane school buses as a "clean" transportation solution. While propane may emit less pollution than diesel in some cases, it is still a fossil fuel and falls far short of the truly zero-emission solutions that students deserve. Seeing fossil-fuel-powered vehicles receive attention at an event focused on clean transportation is concerning and a step backwards.
Getting Our Message Out
Our press conference outside the Convention Center delivered a simple message: Communities need more than flashy displays and promises; they need clean trucks on the road now. We called out the hypocrisy of truck manufacturers that tout their zero-emission vehicles at events like ACT Expo while lobbying against the very standards that would help deploy them at scale.
With the Expo taking place in Las Vegas, speakers highlighted the real-world impacts of truck pollution in Nevada and the urgent need for cleaner transportation. Families in Nevada and across the country are already facing asthma, dirty air, and worsening extreme heat fueled by vehicle pollution, and they cannot afford more delays.
Just outside the Expo, on a key route to the Convention Center, we sponsored a billboard calling attention to the health consequences of truck pollution and urging truckmakers to match their clean truck promises with action.
Beyond Greenwashing
The biggest contradiction at ACT Expo was the gap between what many truck manufacturers say publicly and what they do behind closed doors. On the convention floor, companies proudly displayed electric trucks and highlighted their commitments to innovation and sustainability. Yet many of these same manufacturers continue lobbying against state and federal clean truck standards that would help put these vehicles on the road.
If truckmakers truly believe in the trucks they showcased in Las Vegas, they should support the policies necessary to accelerate adoption of them. Voluntary commitments and marketing campaigns are not enough. Strong clean truck standards create certainty for manufacturers, fleets, workers, and communities while helping reduce harmful air pollution and climate emissions.
ACT Expo showed that the technology is here. Electric trucks, buses, and charging infrastructure are no longer just far-off concepts; they are ready for deployment. But technology alone will not deliver cleaner air and a safer climate. Until manufacturers stop undermining the very policies that make widespread adoption possible, progress will continue to fall short of what communities need and what the climate crisis demands.