A fireside chat with the Climate Insider and Sami Khan, Co-founder of Nevoya
In the race to decarbonize transportation, the trucking industry often gets overlooked. Yet, accounting for 7% of total U.S. CO2 emissions, trucking is clearly a linchpin in any roadmap toward a low-carbon society.
As companies strive to meet net-zero targets, there’s a large and immediate need for solutions in the trucking sector. The Climate Insider interviewed Sami Khan, CEO and co-founder of Nevoya, to explore how his company’s zero-emissions trucking fleet aims to help the industry transition to a cleaner future.
Khan and his co-founders established Nevoya with a clear mission: make zero-emissions trucking the industry standard. By providing access to electric trucks without high upfront costs or operational hurdles, Nevoya is dismantling key barriers that have impeded adoption. At the heart of their strategy lies bespoke optimization technology, specifically designed for managing electric vehicle fleets.
“Large Fortune 500 brands have all committed to reducing their carbon footprints,” explains Khan. “One of the largest sources of emissions for all of these companies is transportation, particularly trucking in North America. These companies are looking for solutions to decarbonize their supply chains, but existing trucking companies see zero-emissions as more of a threat than an opportunity.”
By operating its own EV fleet, Nevoya is able to help its customers reduce their transportation emissions without high upfront costs or operational challenges, removing key barriers that have hindered adoption. Central to their strategy is optimization technology, built for managing electric vehicle fleets.
“To get the cost of electric trucking in line with diesel, you need to optimize your operations,” says Khan. “That’s why we’re building an optimization solution at the core of our trucking company, to maximize asset utilization and reduce costs. Think of it as a transportation management system (“TMS”) built specifically for EVs.“
This proprietary software is a key advantage for Nevoya – enabling them over time to offer zero-emissions trucking at cost parity with diesel. Through efficient route planning, optimized charging schedules, and minimized energy costs, Nevoya can keep the total cost per mile competitive while delivering a good experience for clients.
Khan’s vision is clear.
“Ultimately, adoption comes down to economics. If you can bring capacity to market that’s cost-competitive with diesel, you’ll have no problem finding business. It doesn’t matter who the customer is—if you can offer a cheaper solution, they’ll jump on it.”
This market opportunity is significant. With a total addressable market of $400 billion for short-haul routes under 250 miles in the U.S. alone, Nevoya has set its initial sights on addressing key lanes across Southern California. However, plans are underway to expand to 100 trucks operating across EV-friendly States such as California, New York, and Oregon within the next 24 months. Future expansion will target additional states like Texas, focusing on proving out the model in markets with varying policy environments.
Nevoya’s approach isn’t just about replacing diesel trucks with electric ones—it’s about leveraging technology to make the entire system smarter, cleaner, and more efficient. By optimizing energy use and maximizing utilization, Nevoya is able to push the boundaries of today’s EV technology. As battery ranges improve and charging infrastructure expands, so too does Nevoya’s addressable market and economic model.
“The main challenges we face are the lack of charging infrastructure and current limitations on vehicle range,” Khan explains. “However, there are still plenty of routes that can be served by today’s vehicles. By focussing on the market segments where electrification makes sense, we can immediately start reducing the industry’s reliance on diesel, positioning ourselves well for future generations of vehicles with better ranges and lower costs.“
Khan also emphasizes the need to be agnostic of policy in accelerating adoption. “In markets like California, we’re seeing strong incentives and mandates that are really moving the needle. But in other states, the economics must stand on their own. That’s why we’re laser-focused on driving down costs and proving the business case, regardless of the policy environment.”
Nevoya sees itself as a pioneer in the industry, but its ambitions don’t end there. Given the size and scale of the US trucking market, Nevoya is cognizant of the effort that it will take to decarbonize, and is inviting others to join them in this challenge.
“We plan to be transparent with our data, demonstrating to other trucking companies how EVs can be viable and advantageous for their fleets,” says Khan. “By setting this example, we hope to accelerate adoption across the entire industry and dispel any lingering doubts about the technology’s readiness.“
In a world where “sustainability” and “profitability” are often seen as competing priorities, Nevoya offers a glimpse of a new paradigm.
By harnessing the power of data, software, and clean tech, it’s possible to deliver environmental and financial impact together. As more capital flows toward climate solutions that can scale in the face of urgent timelines, expect Nevoya to be part of the zero-emissions revolution.
The path to a net-zero future runs through the trucking industry—and Nevoya is helping pave the way.
