The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced that it has approved a “rule of this type” requiring a phased transition to zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles.
named Advanced clean fleetsthe rule helps put California on track to meet Gov. Gavin Newsom’s goal of fully transitioning trucks traveling statewide to zero-emissions technology by 2045, CARB noted , adding that fleet owners will save about $48 billion over their entire operation. costs from the transition to 2050.
The rule includes an end to combustion truck sales by 2036 and sees fleet owners operate vehicles for private services, such as last-mile delivery, and federal fleets, such as the Postal Service, along with fleets of state and local government, begin their transition to zero-emission vehicles starting in 2024, CARB explained. It also includes the ability to continue operating existing vehicles during their useful lives and allows fleet owners to receive exemptions based on available technology, CARB noted.
An analysis of buying and selling requirements estimates that about 1.7 million zero-emission trucks will hit California roads by 2050, according to CARB, which noted that to support the infrastructure and services needed to make this transition, agencies across government have committed to the Joint Zero Emission Infrastructure Agency’s statement of intent.
California will invest nearly $3 billion between 2021 and 2025 in zero-emission trucks and infrastructure, CARB noted. That investment is part of a multi-year, multi-agency $9 billion zero-emissions vehicle package to equitably decarbonize the transportation sector that the governor and legislature agreed to by 2021, the organization said.
“We have the technology available to start working toward a zero-emissions future now,” CARB President Liane Randolph said in a statement from the organization.
“The Advanced Clean Fleet Rule is a sensible and innovative approach to cleaning up vehicles on our roads and ensuring Californians have the clean air they want and deserve,” Randolph added.
“At the same time, this rule gives manufacturers, truck owners and fuel suppliers the assurance that there will be a market and demand for zero-emission vehicles, while providing a flexible path to transition to clean air.” , Randolph continued.
California Environmental Protection Secretary Yana Garcia said, “California continues to lead by example with first-of-its-kind standards to reduce air pollution and toxics from heavy-duty trucks.”
“The Advanced Clean Fleets rule moves California one step closer to addressing the historic inequities that have placed some communities at the epicenter of environmental pollution and the resulting health consequences, while accelerating our transition to a future no emissions,” Garcia added.
Commenting on CARB’s adoption of the Advanced Clean Fleet Rule, American Trucking Association (ATA) President and CEO Chris Spear said, “California is setting unrealistic goals and unattainable deadlines that, will undoubtedly lead to higher prices for goods and services delivered to the state and fewer choices for consumers”.
“As it becomes clear that California’s rhetoric is not keeping up with the technology, we hope the board will reverse course and allow trucking companies the freedom to choose the clean technologies that work best for their operations.” , Spear added in the statement.
“ATA member companies work tirelessly to deliver the nation’s freight while using the cleanest technologies available. Over the past 35 years, these efforts have resulted in a 98 percent reduction in trucking emissions. We continue to say “‘Yes’ to advanced cleaner technologies, but achievable goals and realistic timelines are important,” Spear said.
CARB’s mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and taking into account effects on the economy, CARB’s site notes. The organization, which claims to be the lead agency for climate change programs and oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to achieve and maintain health-based air quality standards, consists of 16 members.
Twelve of these are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate and the other four include two representing environmental justice communities, one appointed by the senate and the other by the assembly, and two non-voting members appointed to legislative supervision, one of each of them. the senate and the assembly, shows the CARB site.
The ATA describes itself as the largest and most comprehensive national trade association for the trucking industry. It’s a 90-year-old federation with state trucking association affiliates in all 50 states, according to its site, which claims to represent all sectors of the industry, from LTL to trucking, agriculture and livestock to trucking. automobiles and from large motor carriers. to small mom and pop operations.
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