CARB Passes Zero-Emission Sales Requirements for Commercial Trucks
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) passed a "first-in-the-world," statewide, zero-emission commercial truck requirement on June 25, 2020. The Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule sets an electric truck sales standard for truck manufacturers that sell more than 500 trucks annually in the state.
Beginning in 2024, manufacturers will be required to sell zero-emission trucks as an increasing percentage of their annual California sales with specified goals to be first reached by 2035. By 2045, every new truck sold in California must be zero-emission—a bold vision.
The Union for Concerned Scientists estimates that the ACT will result in an estimated 300,000 electric trucks on the road in 2035. With this increase in electric trucks will come an increased need for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, especially infrastructure aimed at the fleet of zero-emission trucks that ACT will require. How is that going to happen?
As we describe below, various state agencies have ongoing rulemaking procedures and programs to promote the deployment of EV charging and other zero-emission vehicle fueling infrastructure, and we expect additional rulemaking at each of these agencies in the near future. Stay tuned.
California Energy Commission – EV Infrastructure Projects
The California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP) offers incentives for the purchase and installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure at publicly accessible sites throughout California. CALeVIP is funded by a $71 million California Energy Commission (CEC) Clean Transportation Program grant, with the potential of up to $200 million.
California Public Utilities Commission – IOU EV Infrastructure Installation
The California Public Utilities Commission has promoted EV electrification through electricity rates, vehicle-grid integration policy, and charging infrastructure deployment and incentives programs since 2009. In Decision 18-05-040, issued in May 2018, the CPUC approved more than $750 million in funding for the investor owned utilities (IOUs) to expand electric vehicle infrastructure and rebate programs.
The decision included approval of Southern California Edison's $356 million "Charge Ready Transportation" program, which launched in 2019. The Charge Ready Transportation program advances the electrification of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including buses and tractor trailers, by offering to install infrastructure to support charging stations at no charge in SCE's service territory.
California Air Resources Board - Low Carbon Fuel Standard
Zero emission vehicle infrastructure qualifies for capacity-based crediting under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). CARB estimates that, in many cases, a fleet owner who also owns charging stations and charges trucks overnight can have little to no net electricity costs after the LCFS credits are included.