Simone Lawson
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has implemented various regulations to reduce emissions and improve air quality, including the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) Regulation. This regulation focuses on accelerating the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) within fleets. High-priority fleets, which include entities with significant revenue or ownership of multiple vehicles in California, have the option to comply with a Model Year Schedule or the ZEV Milestone Option. The Model Year Schedule allows fleet owners to use their existing trucks until the end of their useful life, which is defined by age, mileage, or engine certification dates. Alternatively, the ZEV Milestone Option provides flexibility in managing fleet composition during the transition to ZEVs. These regulations aim to reduce tailpipe emissions, improve public health, and meet California's ambitious climate goals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | California Air Resources Board |
| Objective | To reduce emissions from mobile sources and protect public health and welfare |
| Strategies | Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) Regulation, Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Regulation, Truck and Bus Regulation |
| ACF Targets | Fleets suited for electrification, manufacturers of ZEV trucks, high-priority and drayage fleets |
| ACT Targets | Manufacturers of Class 2b-8 chassis or vehicles with combustion engines |
| Truck and Bus Regulation | Diesel-powered vehicles with a gross weight rating over 14,000 lbs must have a 2010 or newer engine and emission system |
| Applicable Areas | Congested urban areas, local operations with predictable daily use, California |
| Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Requirements | ZEVs as a percentage of annual sales, ZEVs for high-priority and federal fleets, ZEVs for drayage trucks by 2035 |
| Reporting Requirements | Large entities and fleets, fleet owners with 50 or more trucks |
| Incentives | Low carbon fuel standard credits, grants, rebates, funding programs for advanced technologies |
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What You'll Learn
Zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs)
The ACC program, finalized in 2012, combines the control of smog, soot, and greenhouse gases (GHGs) into a single package of standards for new passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles. The ZEV program is part of CARB's Advanced Clean Cars package and aims to reduce emissions from mobile sources, which are significant contributors to criteria pollutants and GHGs in California.
To further accelerate the transition to ZEVs, CARB has set a target of 5 million ZEVs on the road by 2030. This includes the conversion of public and private fleets to zero-emission cars and trucks, providing an opportunity to remove a large number of carbon-polluting fleet vehicles. The Advanced Clean Fleets regulation requires all medium- and heavy-duty vehicles sold into California fleets to be zero-emissions by 2036, with an expected introduction of 1,690,000 ZEVs into California fleets by 2050.
To support the adoption of ZEVs, the Department of Commerce is responsible for developing and maintaining a mapping and forecasting tool that provides information on electric vehicle charging and refueling infrastructure. Electric utilities with over 25,000 customers must also analyze how their resource plans support anticipated ZEV use and associated energy impacts. Additionally, the Clean Truck Partnership, signed in July 2023, commits manufacturers to meeting California's stringent vehicle standards and working collaboratively with CARB to meet emissions reduction goals.
The efforts of CARB and its partners are showing positive results. In 2023, sales of new zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks in California doubled from the previous year, representing 1 out of every 6 new vehicles sold for services such as last-mile delivery, freight transportation, and school buses. With 18,473 medium- and heavy-duty ZEVs sold in California in 2023, the state exceeded its Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) goal two years ahead of schedule. This indicates that California is on the right path towards achieving its zero-emission goals and improving air quality for its communities.
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Drayage trucks
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recognises the significant role of drayage trucks in the state's transportation system and has implemented specific regulations to address their environmental impact. The Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) Regulation, approved by CARB in 2023, includes Drayage Truck Requirements aimed at reducing tailpipe emissions. This initiative promotes the adoption of zero-emission technologies, aligning with CARB's broader goal of reducing emissions from mobile sources to protect public health and welfare.
To comply with the ACF Regulation, drayage truck owners must register their vehicles by the specified deadline, which was December 31, 2023. This registration process is a crucial step in ensuring that drayage trucks meet the required emission standards. CARB's efforts to reduce emissions from drayage trucks are part of its broader Advanced Clean Trucks initiative, which also includes sales requirements for manufacturers and reporting obligations for large entities and fleets.
The Truck and Bus Regulation, in effect since December 2008, is another relevant CARB initiative. As of January 1, 2023, it mandates that all diesel-powered vehicles operating in California with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 14,000 lbs must be equipped with a 2010 or newer engine and emission system. This regulation carries consequences for non-compliance, including registration denial by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Overall, the California Air Resources Board's regulations regarding drayage trucks reflect a commitment to mitigating the environmental impact of freight transportation. By encouraging the adoption of zero-emission technologies and setting stringent emission standards, CARB aims to reduce pollution from mobile sources, including drayage trucks, to safeguard the health and well-being of California's residents. These efforts are particularly timely given the increasing prominence of the drayage industry in the globalised trade landscape.
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High-priority fleets
The Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) Regulation is the latest development in the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) ongoing efforts to set stringent emission standards for mobile sources to protect public health and welfare. This regulation focuses on accelerating a large-scale reduction in tailpipe emissions from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
The Model Year Schedule allows fleet owners to continue using their existing trucks until the end of their useful life. This period is defined as either 13 years from the model year of the vehicle's initial certification for use or the date the vehicle reaches 800,000 miles, whichever comes first. High-priority fleets utilizing this schedule must remove internal combustion engines from their California operations by January 1 of the year following their minimum useful life mileage threshold. Additionally, all new additions to the California fleet under this schedule must be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).
The ZEV Milestone Option, on the other hand, provides fleets with flexibility in managing their composition during the phase-in period. While there is no requirement to immediately replace existing trucks, fleets must meet specific ZEV milestone targets. This option allows state and local government fleets to retain their vehicles beyond their useful lives, but they must follow a zero-emissions purchase requirement or opt into the ZEV Milestones.
The ACF Regulation is expected to generate significant health and cost-saving benefits for California. By reducing tailpipe emissions, the regulation will improve air quality and contribute to the state's climate goals. Additionally, the increased adoption of zero-emission vehicles is anticipated to save fleets money in the long run due to their lower operating costs compared to conventional trucks.
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Advanced Clean Trucks regulation
California faces challenging mandates to reduce air pollutants and meet state climate change targets. Mobile sources and the fossil fuels that power them are the largest contributors to the formation of ozone, greenhouse gas emissions, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and toxic diesel particulate matter. In California, they are responsible for approximately 80% of smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
To address these emissions, California adopted the Advanced Clean Truck Act (ACT) in 2020. The ACT requires original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to sell zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) or near-zero-emissions vehicles (NZEVs) as an increasing percentage of their annual sales from 2024 to 2035. By 2035, zero-emission truck/chassis sales would need to be 55% of Class 2b – 3 truck sales, 75% of Class 4 – 8 straight truck sales, and 40% of truck tractor sales.
The Advanced Clean Trucks regulation has two components: a manufacturer sales requirement and a reporting requirement. Manufacturers who certify Class 2b-8 chassis or complete vehicles with combustion engines are required to sell zero-emission trucks as an increasing percentage of their annual California sales from 2024 to 2035. Large employers, including retailers, manufacturers, and brokers, are required to report information about shipments and shuttle services.
The Advanced Clean Trucks regulation is part of a holistic approach to accelerate a large-scale reduction of tailpipe emissions and promote the development and use of advanced clean trucks. This will help the California Air Resources Board achieve its emission reduction strategies as outlined in the State Implementation Plan (SIP), Sustainable Freight Action Plan, Senate Bill (SB) 350, and Assembly Bill (AB) 32.
To comply with the ACT, OEMs selling more than 500 vehicles per year must report the number of vehicles they sell within California every year. OEMs selling 500 or fewer heavy-duty trucks are exempt and are not required to sell ZEVs or NZEVs. They may bank or trade ZEV and NZEV credits and can voluntarily report these credits. Credits from NZEV sales are only worth up to 75% of a ZEV credit and can only be used to meet up to half of an OEM's annual deficits.
By implementing the ACT, California expects to accelerate medium- and heavy-duty ZEV truck adoption and cut up to 17 million tons of CO2 emissions by 2040. This will bring substantial economic and health benefits to local economies and citizens.
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Truck and Bus regulation
The Truck and Bus regulation by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) has been in effect since December 2008. This regulation applies to diesel-powered vehicles operating in California with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of over 14,000 lbs. Such vehicles must have a 2010 or newer engine and emission system, with few exceptions. Non-compliant vehicles will be denied registration by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
The regulation also applies to school bus vehicles powered by diesel fuel with a GVWR of greater than 14,000 lbs that transport students at or below the 12th grade to or from school or school activities.
To support vehicle owners in complying with the regulation, ARB provides regular updates on its TRUCKSTOP website, including advisories, regulatory changes, and free training courses. The TRUCKSTOP website also offers air quality alerts, news, and public notices.
As of January 1, 2023, nearly all trucks and buses in California will need to comply with the regulation, with few exceptions. The compliance schedule is based on the year of the current engine, with older vehicles needing to be replaced or repowered with a 2010 or newer engine.
The Advanced Clean Trucks regulation is another initiative by CARB to promote the development and use of advanced clean trucks. This regulation includes a manufacturers ZEV sales requirement and a one-time reporting requirement for large entities and fleets. CARB is also working on the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) Regulation, which aims to reduce emissions by requiring fleets to phase in the use of Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) and mandating that manufacturers only produce ZEV trucks starting in 2036.
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Frequently asked questions
The Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) Regulation is the latest development in the California Air Resources Board's strategy to reduce emissions from mobile sources and protect public health and welfare. The regulation focuses on accelerating the adoption of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks performing drayage operations and government agency fleets.
High-priority fleets, which include entities with at least $50 million in gross annual revenue or common ownership of vehicles in California, can choose between two compliance options: the Model Year Schedule and the ZEV Milestone Option. The Model Year Schedule allows fleet owners to use existing trucks until their useful life ends, which is defined by age, mileage, or engine certification date. The ZEV Milestone Option offers flexibility in managing fleet composition during the transition period, as long as zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) targets are met.
The Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Regulation, which complements the ACF Regulation, mandates that manufacturers increase their sales of zero-emission trucks as a percentage of their annual California sales from 2024 to 2035. By 2036, manufacturers will only be allowed to manufacture zero-emission trucks. This aligns with the overall goal of reducing tailpipe emissions and improving air quality in California.
