California to mandate zero-emission trucks

Full deployment of Volvo’s electric truck pilot in Southern California has been delayed due to a lack of charging stations, she testified, while the coronavirus downturn has negatively impacted the heavy-duty truck market and eroded public funding intended to support and incentivize zero emission vehicle projects. 

Fenton asked the Board to insert a provision into the regulation “to ensure truck manufacturers are not deemed not compliant” if they don’t meet sales requirements. “We ask for [a rule based on] realistic success rather than unrealistic expectations.”

Jed Mandel, president of the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, described the sales mandate as “fundamentally flawed” in lieu of an accompanying fleet purchasing standard requiring carriers to buy a certain number of electric trucks. He urged the board to either delay implementation of the rule by two years — until 2026 — or link the sales mandate with the fleet purchasing mandate.  

CARB will hold hearings on a fleet purchasing standard this summer or early fall.

Electric truck startups

Alana Langdon, Nikola Motor’s vice chair of public affairs, testified in favor of the mandate, saying the hybrid truck maker views the sales targets as “critical public policy” to transition away from fossil fuels and “achieve a more sustainable future.” She urged CARB to support policies that encourage fleet operators to purchase vehicles, alongside the sales standard.

Andy Schwartz, senior policy advisor for Tesla, affirmed the electric vehicle company’s support for the rule, citing overwhelming demand for both the Tesla Semi and cybertruck.

“There are those who continue to say the Air Resources Board is doing too much,” Schwartz said. He rejected that stance, noting that “heavy-duty charging infrastructure can and will be built.”

“Fundamentally, the point of regulation is not to simply require things,” Schwartz added, “it is to push the market more quickly, transitioning away from fossil fuels as fast and effectively as we can.”

Drayage driver reaction

Gustavo Villa, a self-described “misclassified” port driver,” testified in favor of the regulation, linking clean truck policies with fair labor practices.  “By misclassifying employees as contractors, companies don’t take [environmental] responsibility for fleets,” Villa said. Replacing his diesel particulate filter cost thousands of  dollars, he explained, “so I had to put off replacing the diesel particulate filter until I could afford it.”

About 8,000 trucks in the Southern California ports will be out of compliance with California emissions regulations by 2022, CARB members said. 

Board heralds ‘revolutionary’ rule

In a discussion before the vote, CARB members referred to the electric truck rule as “revolutionary,” “on the right side of history” and “a bold step.” Board members called on CARB staff to work with other states to help scale the electric truck market (already seven states have said they will work to pass a similar standard), continue moving forward with charging infrastructure and accelerate implementation of the fleet purchasing standard.

“There needs to be mutual assurance: that there will be vehicles for the purchasers and purchasers for the vehicles,” CARB board chair Mary Nichols said.

Ensuring the burden of compliance falls on operators and not misclassified driver contractors was another concern, board members said.