Agenda & Notes: September 7, 2023 Clean Mobility Projects & Incentives Workgroup Meeting

Agenda

Attendees

Natalie Reavey, CARB; Anna Wong, CARB; Lisa Chiladakis, CARB; Graciela Garcia, CARB; Raquel Cardenas, CARB; Bree Swenson, CARB; Sam Gregor, CARB; Ava Yaghoobirad, CARB; Marissa Williams, CARB; Steve Douglas, Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Dan Bowerson, Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Anthony Bento, CA New Car Dealers Association; Kristin Gomez, Hyundai; Tom Knox, Valley CAN; Liliana Morales, Mobility Development; Robyn Marquis, CALSTART; Glenn Choe, Toyota; Amanda Mattes, CalEPA; LaDonna Williams, All Positives Possible; Francis Yang, Better World Group; Linda White, BMW; Jaime Lemus, Sac Metro AQMD; Whitney Richardson, Electrify America; Kevin Hamilton, Central California Asthma Collaborative; Patty Breslin, San Leandro 2050; Lonnie Mason, First Generation for Health & Economic Development; Creighton Randall, Mobility Development Group; James Delgado, Mobility Development Group

Background

During this Clean Mobility Projects & Incentives Workgroup, CARB staff talked about how the ZEV Equity Task Force was formed in response to the Advanced Clean Cars II Resolution 22-12 and reminded everyone about the Task Force's main goal, which is to “expand low-income and disadvantaged communities’ access to ZEVs and zero-emission mobility.” They also discussed the Guiding Principles and reminded the workgroup to center equity in all we do. You can learn more about this on the ZEV Equity Task Force website.

Summary of August 2023 Meeting

At the last meeting, the goal was to prioritize the different projects and figure out what we can do in the near-term. We talked about how leasing vehicles may not be good for low-income communities. There was an agreement to try and get cars into communities at a lower price and to keep these cars in the community when they come off-lease.

For future information about this workgroup visit the workgroup website.

Overview of Advanced Clean Cars II and Equity, Anna Wong, CARB

Light-duty cars and trucks still contribute to significant portion of smog forming and greenhouse gas emissions. This is why CARB adopted stricter regulations on light cars and trucks. Advanced Clean Cars II builds on Advanced Clean Cars I. It is a requirement focused on automakers that sell new cars in California. Advanced Clean Cars II includes the ZEV Regulation, LEV Regulation, and the ZEV assurance measures. Advanced Clean Cars II went to the Board in the summer of 2022. Overall, the ZEV market share requirement increases from 2026 to 2035. Currently, about 25% of all new cars sold in California are a ZEV or plug-in hybrid.

Barriers still exist when it comes to ZEV adoption. They include range, charging and fueling, cost, limited models, vehicle reliability, and knowledge/awareness. This brings us to ZEV assurance measures meant to ensure emission reductions. These measures ensure new and used ZEVs are a real replacement for our gasoline cars. More information on these measures can be found here.

Environmental Justice Values – CARB staff worked with automakers and other interested parties to come up with ways to encourage auto makers to increase ZEVs in disadvantaged communities. These include providing discounted ZEVs to community mobility programs, providing a ZEV at a lower price, and keeping leased ZEVs in California and placing them with a CC4A or Financing Assistance participating dealership.

Presentations

Clean Mobility Options, Sam Gregor & Ava Yaghoobirad, CARB

In 2013 CARB was directed to fund Clean Cars 4 All, a financing program, and a mobility program. Through this, CARB was also directed to focus efforts on outreach. This was done through smaller workgroups to talk about carsharing and led to the funding of 3 carshare projects initially (in San Diego, LA, and Sacramento). Some projects were successful, and others were not. In 2018, CARB staff also completed the SB 350 Low-Income Barriers Study. These earlier learnings helped lead to the creation of the Clean Mobility Options (CMO) program to streamline the application process.

Community mobility projects take a lot of time to build capacity and get the projects off the ground. They take a lot of investment. There is a lot of potential to fold projects into CMO and the Sustainable Transportation Equity Project (STEP), but it might take time. The legislature had not provided funding specific to these projects until this year when they dedicated funds to these programs.

CMO supports needs assessments, car share programs, local regional jobs and supports workforce training. More information on CMO and the application can be found here.

Sustainable Transportation Equity Project, Breanna Swenson, CARB

STEP has funded carshare projects through 2 grants, one in Stockton and one in Los Angeles. Carshare is one of many types of projects that are funded.

Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives, Graciela Garcia, CARB

The Funding Plan will be posted October 6 for public comment. More information and another community meeting is coming up on September 19 (5-7 p.m.): https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/low-carbon-transportation-investments-and-air-quality-improvement-program/funding

For upcoming and past meetings - https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/low-carbon-transportation-investments-and-air-quality-improvement-program/low-0

Discussion

There is a desire to learn more about consolidating the statewide vehicle needs for community mobility programs, how it would work in practice, and how it would align with the project timelines. For example, it would help to know what is coming in a 6-month window. There was also discussion that Black communities continue to be left behind, and many of these CMO and STEP projects are not benefitting Black communities. How can we ensure Black communities can benefit and be included in these programs?

Finally, we wanted to send around this video of EV access through EV low riding, and how this project is energizing communities.

Next Steps

  • At the next meeting we will leave more time for discussion.
  • CARB staff will prepare a more detailed presentation on the EJ Values and specifically the EJ value for off-lease ZEVs.

Project Ideas

  • Consolidate the statewide vehicle needs for community mobility programs on an annual basis and leverage off-lease vehicles.
  • Create a coalition to develop a ridesharing pilot program.
  • Integrate vehicle incentives and financing programs with cars ready to purchase.
  • Address problems with federal tax refundability so that low-income consumers can benefit from the federal tax credit and streamline incentive and rebate requirements.

Resolution 22-12 Language

https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/barcu/board/res/2022/res22-12.pdf

 

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