A unanimous vote by the California Air Resources Board finalized the Advanced Clean Fleets rule, a state regulation for fleet vehicles. California regulators are now requiring all medium and heavy-duty vehicles sold or registered to be zero emission by 2036
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: In an aerial view, trucks move along Interstate 80 on March 31, 2023 in Berkeley, California. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will allow California's plan to phase out a variety of diesel-powered trucks in the state and require truck manufacturers to sell more zero-emission electric trucks. Half of all heavy trucks sales of heavy truck in California will have to be electric by 2035.
Phasing Out Diesel Trucks
Regulators from California voted to ban the sale of new diesel trucks by 2036 and will require all trucks to be zero-emissions by 2042. According to Electrek's report, this decision puts the state at the front among the states in mitigating tailpipe pollution.
The California Air Resources Board approved the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation, California's second and the world's first to require all new commercial trucks to be electric. This includes garbage, delivery, and other medium and heavy-duty trucks.
This complements the previous Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) in 2020. While both are similar and distinct, ACT was done for manufacturers who are required to supply enough electric trucks, and ACF will be a fleet adoption requirement for operators purchasing a certain percentage of electric trucks.
Also read: California Reaches EV Target Sales Two Years Ahead
2036 is the new target date to phase out diesel truck sales, which is lowered from an early 2040 target because it would be too late to reach the goal of the state for 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2045. CapRadio reported that California Governor Gavin Newsom presented this goal and is only one year off from the 2035 target specifically for cars.
This will enable a smooth transition to zero-emission vehicle fleets with in-service fleets reaching 100% zero-emission drayage trucks, last-mile delivery, and government vehicles by 2035, 100% zero-emission refuse trucks and local buses by 2040, and 100% zero-emission capable utility fleets by 2040.
Supporters and Opposition
As per the board and other supporters of the regulation, approving this will improve public health in the state, especially in marginalized communities that endured polluted air while mitigating the effects of climate change. This mandate estimates the delivery of $26.5 billion in public health benefits in California, avoiding health problems and death because of diesel pollution.
People's Collective for Environmental Justice Senior Policy Analyst Andrea Vidaurre stated that frontline communities in the state will now get some relief when this regulation is implemented. "There is no acceptable level of exposure to deadly diesel pollution - so it has got to go, for the sake of our health and our lungs," the analyst added.
Meanwhile, CNBC reported that some groups in the country oppose this regulation, including major truck manufacturers and their lobbying groups.
Critics argued that while the requirements will cost them more, as electric vehicles are much more expensive than traditional ones due to their size and weight, the deadlines are also unrealistic given the lack of EV charging stations and available space at ports dedicated to heavy-duty vehicles.
Related Article: US Approves California's Mandate Requiring Half of Heavy Trucks be Electric by 2035
