In March the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a “massive” review of environmental regulations. Included are the waivers the prior administration granted of three California emissions rules: California’s Advanced Clean Trucks Rule, Omnibus NOx rule and Clean Cars II rule (https://www.prepassalliance.org/epa-announces-massive-environmental-regulation-review/).
While the federal agency conducts its review, the California rules are still on the books there and in 17 other states which have adopted one or more of the three emissions rules. However, Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) is under attack by truck dealers in several states.
The ACT rule requires truck dealers in a state to sell an increasing percentage of zero-emissions commercial vehicles. But with California’s withdrawal of its ACF (Advanced Clean Fleets) rule, there is no state or federal requirement that motor carriers actually purchase ZEVs. Meanwhile, the practical shortcomings of battery-operated heavy trucks are well known:
- Battery-operated trucks have limited range.
- Recharging takes 5-10 hours, depleting a driver’s hours of service time.
- There are relatively few truck recharging stations.
- The batteries are heavy, reducing truck freight carrying capacity.
- ZEV trucks are much more expensive to buy.
As a result, truck dealers in ACT states have made minimal ZEV heavy truck sales. Here are developments in four of the five states whose ACT requirements begin this year:
In Oregon, Daimler Truck North America testified to the state legislature that the truck manufacturer has sold only three electric trucks in the past three years, despite holding 40% of the state’s truck market. Similarly, in Washington State, truck manufacturer Paccar pleaded with the state legislature to put its ACT rule “on hold” until ZEV technology matures. Both states are now considering legislation to delay ACT enforcement.
Meanwhile, in Massachusetts the state environmental agency announced it will apply “enforcement discretion” for manufacturers unable to meet required minimum electric truck sales required under the ACT program. In Maryland, the state’s governor pledged allegiance to the zero-emission goal but “recognizes that temporary short-term measures are necessary to ensure the programs’ long-term success.”
Physicist Richard P. Feynman once said, “For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations.” As of now, the reality is that ACT rules attempt to compel sales of immature technology.