California will require at least half of all heavy trucks sold in the state to be electric by 2035. new york timesCalifornia approved the mandate in 2020, but it exceeded federal standards and required an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waiver.
This regulation aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector. By 2035, 55% of delivery vans and pickup trucks sold in California must be fully electric. Similarly, 40% of tractor-trailers and 75% of buses and lorries should be fully electric by the same deadline.
California Governor Gavin Newsom sees the mission as a national vanguard. “It’s a remarkable moment because it’s a preview of the magnitude of change in the industry,” Newsom said. new york times“There is power in these exemptions, and that power is emulation. Through these waivers, we adopt principles and policies that lead to innovation and investment.” The rule is practically nationwide, given that the world’s 5th largest economy (e.g. 2035.
The trucking industry has criticized the move for cost and infrastructure requirements. “Drivers no longer want to work in California,” said Jay Grimes, director of federal affairs for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. “They are skeptical about the rapid transition to electric trucks. Can truck drivers charge for two to three days on the highway? Are they?” He adds that an electric truck battery can be thousands of pounds heavier than an internal combustion engine, which could limit transportation. Other truckers wonder if the deployment of charging stations is suitable for long-distance travel. (However, the price difference compared to gasoline trucks may decrease over time).
Not surprisingly, 17 Republican-led state attorneys general have filed lawsuits to block the bill. That list includes AG Ken Paxton of Texas, where he has received more than $3.9 million in fossil fuel donations since 2002, and AG Jeff Landry of Louisiana, where he has raked in more than $875,000 from the oil and gas industry. It contains. Their case is scheduled for later this year in the US Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., after which it may move to the conservative-dominated US Supreme Court.
The Clean Energy Group recognizes the difficulty of the mandate but strikes an optimistic tone. “The electrification of heavy-duty vehicles presents many challenges,” said Drew Kodjak, executive director of the International Clean Transport Council. “But there are also factors that lead to optimism.” For example, he points out that government tax incentives and savings from not having to buy gasoline will help reduce costs in the long run. “Companies like FedEx are looking at revenue over the life of the vehicle. Longer term, the calculation becomes more optimistic.”
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