*1.3. Contribution*

The objective of this research is to estimate the potential of powertrain electrification to reduce road freight transport fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, and the impact on cost. The road freight vehicle fleet in Japan was chosen as the case study.

To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first research that assesses the CO2 emissions reduction potential and the associated cost of powertrain electrification in road freight transport on a national scale, considering the dynamics of technology diffusion. The CO2 emissions reduction potential estimated here corresponds to the upper boundary for CO2 emissions reductions achievable through EDV deployment in the road freight vehicle fleet. Results from this research can help policymakers understand the maximum contribution of powertrain electrification to reduce CO2 emissions from road freight transport; and therefore, designing more effective policies for climate change mitigation in the transport sector. Furthermore, results presented here also show the requirements in terms of cost and supply of electricity and hydrogen needed to achieve powertrain electrification in road freight transport.
