Matt Schrap, CEO Harbor Trucking Association (HTA) and Matt LeDuq, CEO Forum Mobility, which is developing truck charging stations, both agreed that truck charging infrastructure is a key element in supporting zero emission trucking in California and should have been prioritized by new California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations.

On September 17th, Schrap and LeDuq told the Propeller Club of Northern California that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) should have emphasized the development of truck charging infrastructure in advance of adopting its Advanced Clean Fleet regulations related to zero emission trucks.

Advanced Clean Fleet Regulation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reported that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) “has notified the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it has adopted Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulations, applicable to affected state and local government fleets, drayage truck fleets, federal agency fleets, and large commercial fleets that own, lease, or operate on-road medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles, and light-duty package delivery vehicles, to incorporate zero-emitting vehicles beginning in 2024. The ACF regulations also require that all new California-certified medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales be zero-emitting vehicles starting in 2036. Elements of the ACF regulation apply to off-road engines and equipment, specifically off-road yard tractors. By letter dated November 15, 2023, CARB submitted a request that EPA grant a waiver of preemption under section 209(b) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the ACF on-road regulations.”

California Air Resources Board Is Criticized

At the Propeller Club, Schrap criticized CARB, especially about the Advanced Clean Fleets rule and the lack of truck charging: “There’s not enough charging infrastructure or hydrogen fueling infrastructure to justify the timelines. And the rule and the feedback from the State of California is like ‘if you regulate it, it will come’ … And the rule and the feedback from the State of California is like ‘if you regulate it, it will come’ … The Advanced Clean Fleets rule is Ill-conceived beyond ill-conceived for drayage … Ingress and egress as truckers are controlled by the terminals (at California ports). So, they can red light you at the terminal and not allow you to pick up your box if you’re not in compliance with the statewide rules, which is what the mechanism that the State of California looked at to be the enforcement arm of the drayage provision. There is no phase in percentage … or any flexibility opportunities under the ACF as it currently exists. It’s a very difficult proposition to think about as a drayage carrier.”

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