The Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) and key truck and engine makers have made a deal with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) on the development of zero-emission vehicles for commercial trucking. The agreement creates the Clean Truck Partnership which includes flexibility for manufacturers to meet emissions requirements while still reaching the state’s climate and emission reduction goals, according to CARB.
The agreement is a “commitment from the companies to meet California’s vehicle standards that will require the sale and adoption of zero-emissions technology in the state, regardless of whether any other entity challenges California’s authority to set more stringent emissions standards under the federal Clean Air Act,” CARB said in a news release. In turn, CARB has agreed to work collaboratively with manufacturers to provide reasonable lead time to meet CARB’s requirements and before imposing new regulations and to support the development of necessary ZEV infrastructure. The Clean Truck Partnership includes CARB, Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, Cummins, Daimler Truck North America, Ford, General Motors, Hino Motors, Isuzu Technical Center of America, Navistar, Paccar, Stellantis, and Volvo Group North America.
The Terms of the Clean Truck Partnership include: CARB will align with EPA’s 2027 regulations for nitrogen oxide emissions; CARB will modify elements of the 2024 NOx emission regulations for which manufacturers will provide offsets to maintain California’s emission targets; CARB commits to providing no less than four years lead time and at least three years of regulatory stability before imposing new requirements; truck and engine manufacturers commit to meeting CARB’s zero-emission and criteria pollutant regulations in the state regardless of any attempts by other entities to challenge California’s authority.
The Clean Truck Partnership comes as California prepares for implementation of its landmark rules that put in place a phased-in transition toward 100% sale and use of zero-emissions technology for medium and heavy duty vehicles under CARB’s Advanced Clean Trucks and Advanced Clean Fleets rule by 2045. In March, the Biden administration approved California’s waiver under the federal Clean Air Act that allows the state to become the first in the world to require zero-emissions technology for trucks.
CARB chair Liane Randolph called the deal “unprecedented.” Saying, “It represents a new era in our zero-emission future, where we work together to address the needs of both the trucking industry and the Californians who deserve to breathe clean air,” Randolph said. “This agreement makes it clear that we have shared goals to tackle pollution and climate change and to ensure the success of the truck owners and operators who provide critical services to California’s economy.”
EMA President Jed Mandel said the agreement “reaffirms EMA’s and its members’ longstanding commitment to reducing emissions and to a zero-emissions commercial vehicle future, and it demonstrates how EMA and CARB can work together to achieve shared clean air goals. Through this agreement, we have aligned on a single nationwide nitrogen oxide emissions standard, secured needed lead time and stability for manufacturers, and agreed on regulatory changes that will ensure the continued availability of commercial vehicles,” Mandel said. “We look forward to continuing to work constructively with CARB on future regulatory and infrastructure efforts designed to support a successful transition to zero emission vehicles.” Following are remarks from Clean Truck Partnership Members.
“Cummins continues to be committed to working with CARB toward a zero emissions future. We appreciate CARB’s commitment to providing flexibility as we transition to zero emissions, and for their efforts to align with EPA’s 2027 standards. We also welcome CARB’s commitment to collaborate in the further development of ZEV infrastructure needed for our customers to adopt these technologies. These actions will enable Cummins to improve product availability for our customers, while delivering emissions reductions,” said Shelley A. Knust, vice president of product compliance and regulatory affairs for Cummins Inc.
“At Daimler Truck we continue working towards achieving our goal of offering only carbon-neutral vehicles by 2039. For the overall industry transformation to become a reality, we believe the key to success is a close collaboration with all our stakeholders,” said Sean Waters, vice president of product compliance and regulatory affairs for Daimler Truck.
“Ford remains committed to working with the California Air Resources Board and the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association. During this extraordinary period of transition in the automotive industry, automakers need harmonization between programs to help meet our shared goal of lowering emissions from transportation to improve air quality, human health, and the environment. This alignment between California and the EPA’s national standards for model year 2027 and beyond will help us get more clean trucks on the road across the country,” said Cynthia Williams, global director of sustainability, homologation, and compliance at Ford Motor Company.
“Navistar is committed to offering our customers products and services which support a sustainable future. This agreement enables the regulatory certainty we all need to prepare for a future which will include ever increasing volumes of low and zero emissions technologies,” said Michael Noonan, director product certification and compliance for Navistar.
“Paccar is committed to supporting the environmental goals of California and the nation and welcomes the harmonization of future emissions regulation. This agreement provides regulatory certainty and supports a balanced transition to zero emissions by ensuring continued supply of product into California and opt-in states,” said John Rich, chief technology officer for Paccar.
“The Volvo Group is pleased to support this joint agreement between the California Air Resources Board and the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association. We believe this lays the foundation for our customers to have the greatest possible product availability consistent with California’s climate change and air quality goals. Through cooperative efforts such as this, the Volvo Group believes we can achieve the quickest and least disruptive transition to a commercial zero-emission vehicle future,” said Dawn Fenton, vice president, government relations and public affairs for Volvo Group North America.