November 4, 2024 - ZEV Equity Task Force Meeting Summary

I. Welcome and Opening Remarks, Jennifer Gress, Chief, Sustainable Transportation and Communities Division, California Air Resources Board (CARB)

  • Meeting Context: Fourth task force meeting.
  • Goals:
    • The Task Force’s mission is to increase access to zero-emission passenger vehicles and zero-emission mobility in disadvantaged communities. This forum is built on partnerships, collaboration, and co-creation to ensure that our efforts benefit all Californians, especially those who have historically been underserved.
    • We need to ensure that as California implements the Advanced Clean Cars II regulations that require all new car sales to be Zero-emission Vehicles (ZEV) by 2035, we do this in a just and equitable way that incorporates a wide variety of perspectives and lived experiences.
    • Many disadvantaged communities, particularly those burdened by pollution from transportation and industrial activities, have been historically excluded from the benefits of ZEVs.
    • The Task Force plays a crucial role in addressing these disparities and ensuring our equity efforts are targeted and effective. 
    • All Californians — regardless of income, geography, or background—deserve access to clean transportation options and the health and economic benefits they bring.
    • Collaboration with community organizations and stakeholders is key to making this vision reality. 
    • Equity is not just a goal but a guiding principle in how we make decisions and develop strategies. 
  • Program updates since the last Task Force meeting were sent out prior to this meeting and include (see the full update here):
    • Electrify America made a commitment to fund a new education and awareness program, called the ZEV Equitable Access Program (ZEAP) focused on low-income and disadvantaged communities in the State.
      • Electrify America released their Request for Proposal (RFP) in the late summer and is targeting to award projects by end of year, with program kickoff in January 2025.
    • Community Mobility Program Connections Directory, which was developed to help organizations and car manufacturers find partners interested in collaborating to access vehicle discounts, has seen numerous additions of car manufacturers and project developers.
    • Please join us for a webinar on December 3 at 11a.m. — 12p.m. 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. Link to Register to the Webinar 

II. Equity at the Organization and Opportunities for 2025, Chanell Fletcher, Deputy Executive Officer of Equity, Communities and Environmental Justice, CARB

  • Equity is not just about increasing access to vehicles and charging infrastructure, rather it is about addressing the systemic disparities that have historically left certain communities behind and making these communities part of the solution.
  • We need to center equity as we work to meet California’s climate and air quality goals through ZEV deployment.
  • ZEV equity includes the availability of technology, the cost of that technology, the information consumers have when making decisions, and, most importantly, the impact on air quality in communities that already bear the brunt of pollution from transportation and goods movement.
  • When it comes to achieving ZEV equity, as an agency, there is more we can do. We must acknowledge where we’ve made missteps in the past and learn from them, so we don’t repeat them.
  • We need to ensure that the funding and resources we provide across our programs reach the communities most in need.
  • As we continue to develop equity-focused policies and programs, partnerships and joint commitments across agencies will be essential.
  • Today is the beginning of an important discussion to align our equity definitions and ensure that we are all working toward the same goals.
  • Here is an overview of equity initiatives at CARB that benefit both internal and external stakeholders:
    • UC Santa Cruz will be conducting a 3-year, agency-wide racial equity inventory to identify barriers and provide recommendations for steps CARB can take to improve racial equity
    • The Racial Equity Lens is being deployed in several divisions at CARB as part of operationalizing equity, inclusion and diversity efforts
    • California Climate Investments equity work is ongoing
  • The "Groundtruthed" Community Engagement Model to be rolled out publicly at the beginning of 2025

III. Discussion on Aligning ZEV Equity Definitions, Nidia Erceg, ZEV Equity Advocate, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)

  • There are various definitions of equity across multiple agencies
    • Looking to consolidate down to one definition for ZEV Equity that agencies can use
    • Want to be inclusive and incorporate everyone’s feedback
    • Continue conversation around the definition of ZEV Equity and the ZEV Equity Action Plan through 2025
    • Two ZEV Equity Task Force Workgroup meetings scheduled:
  • Participants were able to brainstorm across several ZEV areas:
    • One word for ZEV Equity
    • Who benefits from these ZEV initiatives
    • The actions needed to ensure underserved communities have the access they need
    • How deploying ZEVs could help reduce pollution in areas most impacted by poor air quality
    • Challenges and opportunities with ZEVs
  • Themes: Access, workforce development, infrastructure, and outreach and education
  • Contact Nidia with feedback
padlet entries

IV. Hyundai Overview and Equity Collaboration Sarah Somorai, Manager, Eco-Strategy, Hyundai

  • Hyundai has a large presence in California and a strong commitment to California.
  • In addition to the battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid electric vehicles, they also offer fuel cell electric vehicles and heavy-duty electric vehicles, specifically in the Port of Oakland.
  • Hyundai is participating in the IONNA Partnership for ultra-fast charging and is now a part of NACS
  • Participating in ACC II EJ values.
    • EJ groups must work directly with Hyundai Corporate, not available at the dealership level.
  • Contact Sarah Somorai (ssomorai@hmausa.com) to continue the conversation.

V. Gather Input on ZEV Equity Task Force in 2025, Lisa Chiladakis, Air Pollution Specialist and ZEV Equity Task Force Lead, CARB

  • The group preferred to meet:
    • More frequently as some combination of both a full task force and in smaller workgroups
    • Quarterly
    • Both virtually and in-person
    • In the morning
  • Because we couldn’t cover all questions, we are sending out a survey on the remaining questions

VI. Conclusion of Meeting and Next Steps:

  • Next ZEV Equity Task Force meeting will be in the new year.
  • We encourage continued engagement and collaboration.
  • Please join the December and January workgroup meetings to continue work with GO-Biz on the definition of ZEV Equity and the ZEV Equity Action Plan.
  • Please contact us if you would like copies of the slides at zevequity@arb.ca.gov

Return to ZEV Equity Task Force website