By: @Ophelia Szigeti
On November 1, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) hosted a webinar on the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation, providing an overview of key exemptions and extensions to its mandate on medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicle fleets owned by special districts and other entities. CARB is still awaiting a waiver from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce the regulations on drayage and high-priority fleets.
A recording of the webinar is available on CARB’s YouTube page here.
Under the current regulation framework:
- The drayage truck requirement mandates that Class 7-8 on-road trucks operating at seaports and intermodal railyards transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by January 2035.
- Starting in 2024, state and local government agencies must ensure 50 percent of new medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicle purchases are ZEVs or opt-in to the Milestones Option.
- For flexibility, near-zero emission vehicles (NZEVs) may also be purchased, provided they are model year 2035 or earlier. However, beginning in 2035, NZEVs will no longer count toward ZEV requirements.
Exemptions include:
- Local and state agencies in designated counties or divisions with 10 or fewer trucks are exempt from ZEV purchase requirements until 2027.
CARB strongly encourages state and local governments to adhere to reporting requirements and apply for extensions where applicable.
Webinar Topics
The webinar covered a comprehensive range of topics, including:
- Overview of the ACF Regulation
- ZEV Purchase Exemptions
- Daily Use Exemptions
- ZEV Infrastructure Delay Extensions
- Non-Repairable Vehicle Exemptions
- Vehicle Delivery Delay Extensions
- Backup Vehicle Exemptions
- Mutual Aid Assistance Exemptions
- Declared Emergency Response Exemptions
- Intermittent Snow Removal Vehicle Exemptions
- Rental Vehicle Options
- Waste and Wastewater Fleet Options
- 5-Day Pass Exemptions
- Additional Extensions and Exemptions
- Available Resources
Key Compliance Note
To qualify for exemptions or extensions, such as those related to ZEV purchases, daily use, or infrastructure delays, fleets must already comply with the ACF regulation and demonstrate that they cannot meet the next applicable compliance date without the requested exemption or extension.
For further questions or guidance, please contact CARB at ZEVfleet@arb.ca.gov.
In Case You Missed It: Funding Opportunities for ZEV Infrastructure
Check out last week’s eNews article overviewing information CSDA has received about zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) funding opportunities provided through the California Energy Commission (CEC). CSDA has confirmed special districts are eligible for the EnergIIZE program. These initiatives specifically support the development of medium-duty and heavy-duty (MDHD) ZEV infrastructure by facilitating the adoption of innovative transportation technologies through grants.
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