Move FM Global News

WASHINGTON D.C.: The US Environmental Protection Agency has announced that it had approved California’s plan requiring heavy-duty trucks to produce zero emissions by 2035.

“Under the plan, half of all heavy duty trucks sold in CA will be electric by 2035,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said.

By 2045, California plans to mandate that all operations of medium and heavy-duty vehicles be zero emission where feasible, shifting away from diesel-powered trucks, according to an executive order Newsom signed in 2020.

Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Washington and Vermont earlier adopted similar rules.

The California Air Resources Board, which has sought waivers from the Clean Air Act to set heavy-duty vehicle and engine emission standards, noted that heavy-duty vehicles greater than 14,000 pounds comprised 3 percent of vehicles on state roads, but account for more than 50 percent of nitrogen oxides and fine particle diesel pollution.

However, American Trucking Associations Chief Executive Chris Spear stressed that “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.”

The EPA has stressed that it has not yet approved California’s request to set new regulations on pollutant exhaust emission standards for nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter for 2024, as well as future medium and heavy-duty engines and vehicles.

In August, California also attempted to set rules requiring all new light-duty cars and trucks sold in the state by 2035 to be either electric or plug-in electric hybrids, but that requires an EPA waiver.