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As diesel enthusiasts, we fully understand there is a growing global trend toward reducing the use of diesel engines in trucks used for the transportation of goods. The belief is they have a severe negative environmental impact. Many countries and regions have implemented or are considering policies to phase out diesel trucks and other diesel-powered vehicles in the coming years, including the State of California. In fact, according to the Associated Press, California’s recent request to begin the phase-out was fully supported and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The recent decision by the EPA grants California, a state known for its high levels of air pollution, the authority to mandate that truck manufacturers increase the sales of zero-emission trucks in the coming decades. This rule will apply to various types of trucks, including box trucks, tractor-trailers, and even heavy-duty pickups.
Gov. Gavin Newsom applauded the state’s role as a leader in setting ambitious vehicle emission standards. “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,” he said.
Normally, the EPA establishes emissions standards for vehicles, including passenger cars and trucks. However, California has been granted waivers in the past to enforce its own more stringent standards. This has often led to other states adopting California’s standards, and currently, eight states have plans to adopt California’s truck standards, as per Governor Newsom’s office. In fact, last year, attorney generals from 15 states, Washington, D.C., and New York City wrote a letter urging the EPA to approve California’s truck standards.
The recently implemented truck standards primarily target truck manufacturing companies and large fleet operators. Companies that own 50 or more trucks will be required to report information to the state regarding the usage of these trucks for shipping goods and providing shuttle services. Manufacturers will also be obligated to sell a higher percentage of zero-emission vehicles, with the requirement starting in 2024. Depending on the class of truck, zero-emission vehicles will need to constitute 40- to 75-percent of sales by 2035.
