California Air Resources Board

Background

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) hosted a public Truck Regulation Implementation Group (TRIG) meeting to discuss the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation (ACF). This was the second meeting of the Border TRIG.

The meeting was recorded and is available on YouTube.

Opening Remarks

The purpose of these meetings is to discuss how to implement ACF efficiently and effectively, not to change the rule. 

Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Regulation Overview 

• ACT regulation is a manufacture sales requirement where a certain percentage of commercial vehicles, starting at class 2b, must be zero emissions. In 2036 manufacturers will have to sell 100% of these vehicles as zero emission in California. It impacts fleets, manufacturers, and dealers. It has been adopted by 8 additional states. 

• High priority fleets are fleets that have 50 or more vehicles or that make $50 million or more in annual revenue. Only vehicles operating in the state of California are impacted.  

• If you have a business that has no trucks but makes $100 million and you contract with certain fleets, then you may be under common ownership and control. 

• Light duty vehicles aren’t included unless they’re package delivery vehicles. NZEVs (plug in hybrid vehicles) will be counted as ZEVs up until 2035.  

• You get a choice as to how you want to comply. You can choose the Model Year Schedule which requires High Priority fleets to only purchase ZEVS or NZEVS starting January 1, 2024. You can also choose the Milestone Option which is more flexible. 

• There are several exemptions and extensions to apply for. If there is nothing available that meets your needs, you can demonstrate that through letters from manufacturers and get an extension for that. For example, if you can’t get the utility to get the infrastructure to your facility in time for the compliance date, then there can be up to a five-year delay for you.  

• High priority fleets needed to have reported by February 1, 2024. CARB is waiting for a waiver from the Federal government. While waiting, compliance is not being enforced. However, when the waiver is received, CARB reserves the right to identify a fleet as out of compliance.  

• Drayage - Only vehicles that go in and out of seaports and intermodal railyards are considered drayage. Just the fact that they cross the border does not make them a drayage truck. Any truck you add to a port, or a railyard must be zero emission. By 2035, all trucks going in and out of ports must be zero emission. Once an engine is either 18 years old or has 800,000 miles on it, the truck can’t be in the fleet or can’t go to a port anymore. However, it can keep operating in California outside seaports and intermodal railyards. Trucks have a minimum of 13 years of useful life.  

Binational Efforts: North American Development Bank (NADBank) 

• In 2021 NADBank was approved to add sectors related to sustainable cities which is where EV charging stations fit in. It can finance factories and manufacturing facilities that produce electric vehicles, as well as fleets. 

• NADBank provides competitive loans with financing and technical support. Grant programs are available. The main program is the EPA funded Border Environment Infrastructure fund which is aimed at preventing pollution in the border areas. NADBank provides funds for project development and has its own utility management where staff is trained. Up to 306 projects have been financed with a value of $11.5 billion. There is funding committed to a binational pilot program focused on economic and environmental benefits. In collaboration with CARB, NADBank is looking to develop a program to finance binational fleets.  

Word Cloud Activity - “What challenges should we focus on?"

• Top Responses: Infrastructure, funding, incentives, outreach, compliance, research  

Future Meeting Goals 

• Researchers from the Center for Environmental Research & Technology of UCR (CE-CERT) can be invited to share their work and identify other topics for research. If anyone has topic suggestions, please feel free to send them to CARB staff.to be considered for the next meeting. 

• Discussion on the collaboration between the US and Mexican authorities is important. In Mexico there is need to support infrastructure development between both countries and ensuring the same technology is used for the installation of chargers. Using the same ideas in infrastructure development creates a strong ecosystem between both countries. If Mexico introduces the same regulations as California, it may be more feasible to introduce this technology. 

• UC Alianza MX is funding a project to research the transition for medium and heavy-duty vehicles and how it will look in the upcoming years. Challenges due to the lack of information on fleets and other barriers can be explored. 

• Panelists and attendees can give an idea of where fleets are. California has had similar challenges in communicating information to utilities. 

Closing Remarks

• Discussion participation in future meetings is encouraged. 

Members In Attendance

• Bruce Tuter – CARB (Co-Chair) 
• Jail Ixel Cruz Garcia - UC Alianza MX (Co-Chair) 
• Rene Chavez Valeriano – Volkswagen Truck and Bus Mexico (Co-Chair) 
• Brianneth Rocha - CARB 
• Angel Yin - BYD|RIDE 
• Annmarie Rodgers - CARB 
• Antonio Cruz - San Diego Gas & Electric 
• Cristina Marqeuz - IBEW Local 569 
• Dillia Ortega - BWG 
• Derrick Robinson - Center on Policy Initiatives 
• Fernando Barrera – North American Development Bank 
• Israel Delgado - CANACAR (Camara Nacional del Autotransporte de Carga
  - National Chamber of Freight Transportation)
• Miguel Ogazon - ANPACT (Asociación Nacional de Productores de
  Autobuses, Camiones y Tractocamiones - National Association of
  Manufacturers of Buses, Trucks and Tractors)
• Monique Lopez - San Diego Air Pollution Control District 
• Yousif Zardo – CARB