Diesel prices are rising worldwide. So are electric truck sales.

Electric trucks are selling fast around the world, even as rising diesel prices make the fossil-fueled version more expensive to run. Sales of medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks hit a record in the first half of 2026, with nearly 160,000 sold worldwide, up about 75% from a year earlier. China accounts for more than 90% of those sales, backed by strong government support and a large battery supply chain. Electric trucks cost more upfront than diesel trucks but are cheaper to operate and maintain, and the math improves further as diesel prices climb, partly because of the war in Iran.

In the United States, the picture is different. The market for electric trucks has nearly stalled, as federal tax credits for zero-emission vehicles have been eliminated, grants for electric trucks and chargers have been frozen, and California has lost its authority to set its own emissions rules for trucks and cars. None of this is likely to affect a homeowner directly, since these are commercial freight vehicles, not passenger cars.

Still, there are a couple of bright spots in the U.S. California has committed billions of dollars to incentives for truckers and now has more zero-emission heavy trucks on the road than any other state. Tesla has also begun mass production of its electric semitruck at a Nevada factory, with a price between $250,000 and $300,000 that industry watchers say is competitive, plus faster charging and longer range than rival trucks. For most households, this story is mainly a sign of where fuel and vehicle costs are heading nationally, not something tied to home energy upgrades.