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 (ACF) rule provisions. This was the second meeting of the Rule Provisions TRIG.[1] The meeting included discussion of the following topics:

• The Zero-Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Purchase Exemption process
• Types of documentation commonly provided by manufacturers/dealers when purchasing vehicles
• A preliminary draft list of currently available ZEV manufacturers of Class 6-8 vehicles

The meeting was recorded and is available on YouTube.

Meeting Summary

The meeting focused on the ZEV Purchase Exemption. Staff provided TRIG panelists with a handout prior to the meeting that provided links to the ZEV Purchase Exemption frequently asked questions (FAQ) document, and links to the regulation identifying the specific regulatory sections for the ZEV Purchase Exemption. Also included in the meeting handout were descriptions of the process for requesting a ZEV Purchase Exemption, eligibility criteria, an example draft list of zero-emission vehicle manufacturers, and information about monthly question and answer sessions offered by CARB to assist with general ACF compliance assistance.

The following are summaries of feedback for each topic discussed during the meeting.

ZEV Purchase Exemption comments:

• Assistance on navigating ZEV Purchase Exemption application timelines.
• Concerns over the future costs associated with ZEV purchases.
• Can CARB provide a standardized form for fleet owners to apply for the exemption?
• Suggest that the minimum useful life requirement for state and local government fleets using the ZEV Purchase Schedule take into account issues like finding a suitable replacement due to timing of vehicle age related replacements, tedious public procurement processes, and the varying timelines of purchasing different vehicle types.
• Suggest that CARB provide guidance on what exemptions are available if a fleet does not qualify for a ZEV Purchase Exemption.
• Concern about the reasonableness of assessing the replacement suitability of the entire fleet when applying for the ZEV Purchase Exemption.
• Suggest that CARB and manufacturers work together to identify a general process and the associated documents required of fleets when purchasing a truck.
• Suggest that CARB provide periodic updates of requested exemptions and provide examples of approved applications.

Draft List of Zero-Emission Vehicles Manufacturers comments:

• Suggestion that vehicle manufacturers identified on the list have different quality measures and that conversions do not undergo robust engineering processes as the larger more established manufacturers.
• Concern about the ability of low volume manufacturers to adequately service their vehicles in the future.
• What information can be provided by the manufacturer to help fleet owners make decisions about the applicable vehicle purchases?
• Concerns expressed about the weight of ZEVs and the available payload capacity. Suggestion that front axle weight limitations create challenges for the type of vehicle configurations that can be built on the chassis.
• Suggestion to include the number of vehicles that have been deployed for vehicles identified on the list.
• Identify the locations of manufacturer service centers.
• Categorize manufacturers as either a high volume or low volume manufacturer.
• Vehicle configurations rely primarily on the dealer network.
• Dealers need specific certifications to sell and service ZEVs.
• Concerns over the ability to approximate vehicle production lead times because they vary by manufacturer and model.

Future Meetings

Members were asked for feedback and to provide suggestions for future meetings. Those comments and suggestions included:

• Monthly or bi-monthly meetings with a meeting length of two hours.
• Future meeting topics to discuss the Infrastructure Delay Extension and the Daily Usage Exemption.
• Follow up on the ZEV Purchase Exemption list.

Action Items

• Schedule next Rule Provisions TRIG meeting.
• Create a standardized meeting structure with an agenda for each meeting.
• In addition to CARB sending out a listserv notice, the co-chairs Bradley or Rebecca will send out a two week notice before each TRIG meeting.

Members In Attendance

• Bradley Northup, City of Carlsbad, co-chair
• Gerald Berumen, CARB, co-chair
• Jimmy Steele, CARB
• Tony Brasil, CARB
• Dorothy Fibiger, CARB
• Chris Franceschi, CARB
• Tiffany Canales, CARB
• Bret Stevens, Daimler Trucks
• David Clifford, Ventura Transfer Company
• Don Jones, City and County of San Francisco
• Harmony Gates, Yorke Engineering
• Jon Costantino, California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance
• Kristina Corby, California Electric Transportation Coalition
• Matt Mesick, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America
• Michael Lewis, Construction Industry Air Quality Coalition
• Mike Tunnell, American Trucking Associations
• Morgan Mitchell, Westside Water Authority
• Nick Blair, Association of California Water Agencies
• Paul Rosa, Penske
• Rick Albertini, Phenix Truck Bodies & Van Equipment
• Sarah Deslauriers, California Association of Sanitation Agencies
• Steve Nelson, Local regional trucking based in Monterey County
• Suzanne Seivright-Sutherland, California, and Industrial Materials Association

[1] A joint TRIG meeting was held with the infrastructure group on March 11, 2024

Principal Investigator/Authors: Charisma Acey, Margaretta Lin                 

Contractors: University of California, Berkeley

Sub-contractors: Just Cities and West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project

Contract number: 21RD009

Project Status: Active

Relevant CARB programs: Sustainable Communities & Climate Protection Program, Research Planning

Topic areas: Sustainable Communities, Research & Sustainable Communities, Sustainable Community Strategies (SCS), Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Reduction & Climate Goals, Land Use & Transportation Research

Research Summary:

This project will examine public investment policies and systemic precedents that contribute to the inequitable distribution of resources and resulting disparities across California communities. The project will identify opportunities and potential resources to address these inequities in public infrastructure investment policies and practices in the housing, land use, and transportation sectors. The project findings and resulting report, will identify and prioritize equitable policies that also contribute to reductions in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and preserve, protect, and allow to produce more affordable housing across the state. In addition to offering opportunities to identify how existing and new public investments can be utilized to yield economic, environmental, and social returns to support healthy and more sustainable community development.

The project will develop an online policy mapping tool with multiple resources to support local decision-makers and advocates in preventing current and future harm for people of color and other vulnerable populations as well as reduction in VMT and GHG emissions. The mapping tool will share a research action model to help users identify local conditions and impact (environmental, health, housing, transportation) to understand their connection to inequitable policies and practices in their selected regions. In addition, the tool will include six unique case studies cataloguing history of policies and impacts (drivers of pollution and inequity), existing solutions, and visionary solutions proposed by communities. Moreover, the mapping tool will feature a database of equitable and inequitable investment policies, practices, and strategies across California that have prevented or created harm in distinct geographies. All tools will be developed through a transformative planning process alongside an Environmental Justice Advisory Council.

Keywords: sustainable community strategies (SCS); transportation and land use; equitable climate policy; evaluation methods