Updates for the ZEV Equity Task Force since the May 2024 meeting

Community Tour in Imperial

On September 12, 2024, a group of CARB staff, partner organizations, and ZEV Equity Task Force members participated in the Imperial Valley Community Tour hosted by Comite Civico del Valle (CCV), visiting key locations in Calexico and Imperial. The tour provided an opportunity to witness firsthand the transportation challenges and environmental conditions faced by these communities and to foster informed, community-driven policy discussions.

Community Tour in Oxnard

Building on conversations with participants of the ZEV Equity Task Force, on September 26, the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) led a group of CARB, Climate First: Reducing Oil & Gas (CFROG), CEC, and GO-Biz staffers for an environmental justice tour in Oxnard that highlighted vehicle traffic through their neighborhoods, the Ormond Beach Generating Station, and air pollution challenges faced by local residents. Standing just steps away from the Ormond Beach Generating Station, the tour participants discussed the air quality impacts caused by the aging power plant, which has long affected this community. The proximity of the plant to the beach and nearby homes brought the environmental and health concerns into sharp focus.

Update on the ZEV Equity Task Force Workgroups

Three workgroups were formed out of the initial May 30, 2023, ZEV Equity Task Force meeting. These workgroups have collectively met 18 times to discuss project and policy ideas to increase equitable access to ZEVs. Information on each of the three workgroups can be found at:

Originally, we formed these three separate workgroups that met to discuss specific topics. However, we've heard concerns about meeting fatigue and have noticed a decline in attendance. To address this, we will be combining the workgroups moving forward and shifting to meetings focused on project-specific topics.

You’ll hear more about the topics for the next two workgroup meetings during Nidia Erceg’s presentation for GO-Biz at the November 4th ZEV Equity Task Force meeting, where she will begin to discuss defining ZEV equity. We are also actively seeking project partners and anyone interested in helping set the agenda as we move forward. After Nidia’s presentation, we will send invites to both upcoming workgroup meetings. Registration links will also be available on the ZEV Equity Task Force website.

The next workgroup meeting dates will be as follows:

  • December 5th from 10-11am PT
  • January 9th from 10-11am PT

If you’re unable to attend the ZEV Equity Task Force meeting on November 4th but would like to join these workgroups, please reach out to us at ZEVequity@arb.ca.gov.

Updates from Electrify America

Electrify America made a commitment to fund a new education and awareness program focused on low-income and disadvantaged communities in the State. This new program, called the ZEV Equitable Access Program, or “ZEAP,” will provide direct support to community-based organizations working specifically to drive education and awareness within California’s low-income and disadvantaged communities. Electrify America conducted engagement with the Outreach and Education Workgroup to develop program requirements that would be included in a request for proposals to select partners to implement the program. Electrify America also commits up to $500,000 of this funding for programs proposed by the ZEV Equity Task Force and will incorporate those projects into the RFP. This commitment is part of Electrify America’s 4th Cycle ZEV Investment Plan.

Electrify America released their RFP in the late summer and is targeting to award projects by end of year, with program kickoff in January 2025. If applicants have specific questions, they should reach out to Mandy Johl, Electrify America’s point person for this RFP.

Community Mobility Program Connections Directory

The environmental justice value pathway under the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) ZEV regulation awards values to manufacturers who provide discounts to

2024 and subsequent model year ZEVs purchased for use in community carshare programs. Working collectively, the Clean Mobility Projects & Incentives Workgroup created the Community Mobility Program Connections Directory, a web-based tool to help organizations and OEMs find partners interested in vehicle discounts available through provisions in ACC II. The directory continues to get updated, so check it out if you have yet to do so!

CARB Research Contract: Understanding Travel Demand and Built Environment Factors to Optimize Increased Zero Emission Vehicle Access in Underserved Communities

Please join us for a webinar on December 3rd at 11am-12pm PT to hear from Scott Hardman, Ph.D. and his team at the University of California, Davis on their findings from the culmination of a research project with CARB to understand travel demand and built environment factors to optimize increased zero emission vehicle access in underserved communities.

• Register for the Webinar

Priority populations in California have worse transportation access and have adopted ZEVs at lower rates than other communities. In this webinar, the research team at the University of California, Davis will present findings from listening sessions and a statewide survey to explore barriers and possible policy interventions to increase ZEV adoption in these regions. Researchers will discuss the role of education and awareness, incentives, infrastructure, vehicle supply, and battery assurance measures on increasing access to ZEVs in priority populations.

Mapping ZEV Registrations to Show Distribution of ZEVs in California.

CARB staff are in the process of mapping ZEV registrations for 2021 and 2022, including the proportion of ZEVs relative to the total vehicle population at the census tract level. This will allow us to identify gaps in overall ZEV market penetration and to evaluate the distribution of ZEVs in California to gain a better understanding of ZEV uptake and benefits in underserved communities. The preliminary map was presented at the July 11th meeting of the Clean Mobility Projects & Incentives Workgroup. CARB staff will continue collaborating with the ZEV Equity Task Force and will present at a future workgroup meeting to gather input on additional parameters that could enhance this analysis. Staff will also present an updated version of the map at a future ZEV Equity Task Force meeting for further input as well.

Advanced Clean Cars II Amendments

CARB is currently developing amendments to its Advanced Clean Cars II program, which reduces emissions from passenger cars and trucks and to improve the

consumer experience with electric vehicles. To help inform these amendments, CARB has been partnering with and compensating community-based organizations to hold community input sessions in areas of the state disproportionally impacted by air pollution to understand their clean transportation needs and priorities.

Virtual Statewide Community Input Sessions

CARB staff conducted two virtual input sessions to accommodate residents who may have limited ability to attend in-person sessions. These virtual sessions allowed for broader participation across the state, particularly benefiting those in rural or underrepresented communities. The meetings were conducted in English with live Spanish interpretation. Details of virtual meetings are as follows:

  • May 21, 2024, via Zoom
  • October 15, 2024, via Zoom

In-Person Community Input Sessions

In partnership with local community-based organizations (CBO), CARB co-hosted a series of in-person meetings in key regions across California, with a specific focus on areas experiencing high levels of air pollution. These regions included Imperial Valley, the Central Coast, Sacramento, and the Central Valley. Each session was held in a community space that was easily accessible to residents, and language support was provided in Spanish and, where applicable, Mixteco, to accommodate the diverse populations in these areas.

Details of the in-person input sessions are as follows:

  • Wednesday, September 11, 2024, 5 - 7 p.m. in Imperial Valley
  • Thursday, September 26, 2024, 5 - 7 p.m. in Oxnard
  • Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 5:30 - 7 p.m. in Sacramento
  • Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 5 - 7 p.m. in Stockton

CARB awarded over $42 million to support community-led mobility projects in disadvantaged and low-income communities throughout California

This month, CARB awarded over $42 million to fund community-led clean mobility planning, education and implementation projects in disadvantaged and low-income communities. These projects also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimize vehicle miles traveled and address inequities by making it easier for residents to get to key destinations such as schools, medical facilities, grocery stores and jobs without the need for personal vehicles.