The California Air Resources Board has released a report showing that truck manufacturers have exceeded the target sales of zero-emission vehicles and are now two years ahead of schedule, indicating the interest of fleet operators in zero-emission trucks.
The annual report tracks how manufacturers are meeting key CARB regulations that establish a phased-in transition toward selling 100% zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by 2045. Under the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule approved in 2020, manufacturers that sell more than 500 vehicles in California are required to report their vehicle sales and how many of those vehicles have zero emissions. Sales requirements begin in 2024, so early success in meeting them in 2022 ensures that manufacturers will have enough credits to sell internal combustion engine models as needed to meet market needs.
“The report makes several important points: users are interested in adopting zero-emissions technology; several manufacturers have stepped up to meet market interest; and the flexibility we have built to allow a phased-in transition towards a zero-emissions future is working,” said Dr. Steven Cliff, Executive Officer of CARB. “Helping businesses that rely on trucks to transport goods across the state move to zero emissions is key to achieving a cleaner air future, and the data shows that progress continues.”
The trucking sector is critical to reaching California’s clean air targets. While trucks represent only 6% of vehicles on California roads, they account for more than 35% of the state’s transportation-generated nitrogen oxide emissions and a quarter of on-road greenhouse gas emissions. state emissions. California communities that sit near trucking corridors and warehouse locations with heavy truck traffic, which are often low-income and communities of color, have some of the worst air in the country.
In April, CARB also approved an Advanced Clean Fleets rule that supports its previous marketing requirement by requiring that medium- and heavy-duty fleets begin a phased-in transition to using zero-emissions options. The rule applies to fleets that are well suited for electrification, including public fleets, drayage trucks operating in ports and railways, and other vessels from companies or entities with an income of $50 million or having 50 or more trucks. The Advanced Clean Fleets rule provides an additional coordinated impetus for new zero-emissions sales in the market, reinforcing emerging sales trends. Due to the impact of truck traffic on residents living near heavily traveled corridors, delivery trucks must have zero emissions by 2035. All other fleet owners have the option to switch to percent of their vehicles to meet expected zero-emission milestones, giving owners the flexibility to continue operating combustion-powered vehicles if necessary during the transition to cleaner technology.
To ensure the necessary technology is available to meet future milestones, CARB and the nation’s leading truck and engine companies recently signed the Clean Truck Partnership, which commits participating manufacturers to meeting California’s vehicle standards, even if other entities are challenging California’s authority to set stricter emission standards under the federal Clean Air Act. In return, CARB agreed to work with manufacturers to meet CARB’s requirements.
CARB is also working with truck manufacturers to ensure the successful transition of requirements for heavy-duty diesel trucks. In 2020, CARB adopted rules to reduce exhaust and smog-forming emissions from heavy-duty internal combustion engine trucks sold in California, known as the Omnibus regulation. The Omnibus regulation was adopted with flexibility to allow manufacturers to focus resources on development and the launch of new technologies in the different types of vehicles they produce to ensure a stable supply while emission reductions are also achieved. Omnibus regulatory updates resulting from industry feedback were reviewed at an Executive Officer Hearing on October 20 to implement flexibility in meeting requirements for manufacturers for model years 2024 through 2026 while maintaining the state emissions targets. Additional implementation considerations for manufacturer flexibility will be discussed at a workshop on October 24, which will focus on the types of projects included in the Omnibus regulation to offset emissions deficits generated by legacy engines.
Manufacturers are increasing sales of diesel and natural gas engines that generate credits that reduce smog-forming emissions, bringing California’s cleaner engines ahead of the 2024 Omnibus standards. Together, the availability of credits generated by the sale of zero-emission vehicles and the collaborative efforts of the Omnibus flexibilities provide a clear path forward to continue meeting the heavy duty that demand in the California market.
The zero-emissions report, which also tracks sales of some off-road vehicles, also found that manufacturers are putting more than double the required number of zero-emission trucks on the road. sales, based on current sales trends and the number of funding vouchers issued by CARB.
