The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved a new regulation called “Advanced Clean Fleets,” which aims to eliminate the sale of all new medium and heavy-duty combustion vehicles by 2036. From next year, the regulation will also ban new diesel trucks from ports and railyards.
The new regulation applies to all state and federal government vehicles, as well as entities with annual revenue over $50 million or those that own more than 50 vehicles, including at least one operating in California. It pertains to vehicles weighing more than 3,856 kg, off-road yard tractors, and light-duty mail and package delivery vehicles.
Starting from January 1st, 2024, trucks used to transport freight from ports and rail yards may register with CARB if they are zero-emission. CARB will prioritize the use of these trucks, phasing out older trucks eventually. By 2035, dryage trucks must be zero-emission, effectively banning the use of diesel trucks in Californian ports.
The regulation has been met with criticism, particularly from the American Trucking Association, which claims that the timeline set forth is unrealistic and the transition will be expensive and challenging for the industry. They argue that the infrastructure required to support zero-emission trucks is not yet in place.
CARB, however, states that it has created transition plans that allow vehicle owners to meet zero-emission milestones by only transitioning a portion of their vehicles. CARB has also allowed for exemptions based on available technology, ensuring that vehicle owners continue to replace their most polluting trucks with the cleanest engines in the nation.
The rule now awaits approval by the Environmental Protection Agency, which operates under the Biden Administration.
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.
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