What is the Backup Vehicle Exemption?

The fleet owner can designate a vehicle that is operated less than 1,000 total miles per calendar year as a backup vehicle to have it excluded from the applicable ZEV requirements. A designated backup vehicle will not be counted as a vehicle purchase when determining compliance with the ZEV Purchase Schedule and is excluded from the California fleet when determining compliance with the ZEV Milestones Option.

How do I designate a vehicle as a backup vehicle?

The fleet owner can designate an existing vehicle as a backup vehicle and report its odometer reading at the beginning of the compliance year during the annual open reporting period. If adding a vehicle to the fleet mid-year, the fleet owner must designate the vehicle as a backup vehicle within 30 days of adding the vehicle to the fleet. Reporting is done online through the Truck Regulation Upload, Compliance and Reporting System (TRUCRS).

What must I do after reporting a backup vehicle?

Each year the fleet owner must report the odometer reading for any designated backup vehicle and confirm the vehicle will continue to operate as a backup vehicle for the next compliance year. The fleet owner must report odometer readings when the vehicle is sold and must keep records of reported odometer readings, vehicle purchases, and sales.

Do I have to report a backup vehicle that is registered as non-op?

Yes, if the vehicle operates in California and is registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles as planned non-operational, has a deferred registration, or is not registered at all, it still must be designated as a backup vehicle to be excluded when determining compliance.

Can a designated backup vehicle be used during emergencies?

Yes. Backup vehicles can immediately be used as much as needed to support of an emergency event without affecting compliance. Any mileage accrued during the emergency event does not count towards the usage limits of a designated backup vehicle. Emergency events include wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters where the vehicle was dispatched by a local, state, or federal agency. Emergency use includes miles travelled to and from an emergency event, and delivery of services or supplies in connection with the emergency event. The fleet owner must report the miles of vehicle use during an emergency event during the open reporting period and keep a copy of the contract or dispatch records from the lead agency that coordinated the emergency response.

What happens if a vehicle exceeds the backup vehicle mileage threshold?

A designated backup vehicle that exceeds the annual mileage threshold must be immediately removed from the California fleet, and is not eligible to use other flexibility options.

Can I designate a backup vehicle without a functioning odometer?

No. A fleet owner cannot claim the backup vehicle exemption if the vehicle does not have a functioning odometer or hub-odometer. If the odometer is broken, the fleet owner may use a hub‑odometer that has a unique serial number and has a lock-out feature that permanently prevents tampering if it was installed prior to designating the vehicle as a backup vehicle.

This document is provided to assist regulated entities in complying with the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation. In the event any discrepancy exists between this document and the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, the regulatory text of the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation applies.