California gets clearance to mandate all heavy duty trucks be electric by 2035

The State of California is putting its emission reduction plans into overdrive. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given the state approval to enact its own emissions standards, giving Governor Gavin Newsom the thumbs up to mandate all heavy duty trucks sold in California be electric by 2035. That would make California the first government to require zero-emissions trucks.

The aggressive move away from diesel-powered trucks is led by the California Air Resource Board (CARB), which states that heavy duty vehicles account for 3% of vehicles on the road but 50% of nitrogen oxides and fine particle diesel pollution.

“We’re leading the charge to get dirty trucks and buses – the most polluting vehicles – off our streets, and other states and countries are lining up to follow our lead,” Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

EPA waiver draws criticism from trucker industry

Not everyone was cheering on California’s granted waiver from the EPA’s federal emission standards. Industry associations like the American Trucking Association called the announcement “infeasible rules” that could lead to a supply chain crisis.      

“By granting California’s waiver for its so-called ‘advanced clean trucks’ rule, the EPA is handing over the keys as a national regulator,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear in a statement. “This isn’t the United States of California, and in order to mollify a never satisfied fringe environmental lobby by allowing the state to proceed with these technologically infeasible rules on unworkable and unrealistic timelines, the EPA is sowing the ground for a future supply chain crisis.”

Truck manufacturers wary of California electric mandate

California’s initiative should have a big impact on truck OEMs doing business on the West Coast. The State is mandating that all heavy trucks sold in California either be electric or hydrogen fuel cell by 2045.

The Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association expressed concern over its ability to produce compliant vehicles quick enough to conform with California’s ambitions targets. “We remain concerned that limiting manufacturers’ leadtime to produce compliant vehicles will present significant challenges,” said EMA President Jed R. Mandel in a statement. “Adequate leadtime, regulatory stability, and the necessary zero-emission recharging and refueling infrastructure are imperative for manufacturers to develop, build, and sell the customer-acceptable, effective products capable of meeting CARB’s zero-emission vehicle sales mandates. We are committed to continuing our work with EPA, CARB, and other stakeholders to develop workable regulations that will achieve a zero-emission future.”