Electrifying Trucks: Will California Ban Diesel Power?

Five days after approving a landmark rule to phase out the sale of new light duty vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, the California Air Resource Board released a rule that applies to the sale of new medium and heavy duty ICE vehicles.

3 minute read

September 26, 2022, 11:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Diesel big rig truck on California road with mountains in background

Clari Massimiliano / Diesel truck

Just over two years ago, California adopted the world’s first zero-emission commercial truck requirement. And on August 31, less than a week after having approved a landmark ban on the sale of light duty vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, the California Air Resources Board released a draft regulation that intends to do the same for the sale of medium and heavy duty vehicles, mostly powered by diesel engines believed to be responsible for about 70 percent of California's estimated known cancer risk attributable to toxic air contaminants.

Known as the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, its goal is to “achieve a zero-emission truck and bus California fleet by 2045 everywhere feasible and significantly earlier for certain market segments such as last mile delivery and drayage applications,” according to the Air Resources Board.

The proposed regulation, summarized here, is described in a 296-page staff report [pdf] released August 30. A public hearing is scheduled to formally adopt the rule on Oct. 27.  Written comments from the public are being accepted through Oct. 17.

Goes further than ICE passenger vehicle sales ban

Unlike the sales ban approved last month for internal combustion light duty vehicles which doesn't apply to the operation of gas and diesel-powered cars and light trucks, “large trucking companies would have to gradually convert their existing fleets to zero-emission vehicles, buying more over time until all are zero emissions by 2042,” reports Nadia Lopez who covers environmental policy issues for CalMatters in the source article.

Drayage trucks — used largely to transport cargo from ports and railways — would have the strictest timeline. New models would be zero-emission in 2024, while diesel and gas drayage trucks must retire after 18 years to guarantee that they meet a zero-emission requirement by 2035. 

As noted above, the regulation would take effect in just two years for some categories of trucks and truck fleets, adds Lopez.

In addition, half of all new trucks purchased by state and local governments would be zero-emission in 2024, increasing to 100% by 2027. Some exemptions are allowed, if there is a lack of available models. Counties with small populations, including Inyo, Butte, Mendocino and Tuolumne, would be exempt until 2027. 

The regulation appeared to be well-received by truck manufacturers Tesla, Volvo and Nikola as noted in the CalMatters piece.

Challenges ahead

Electrifying long-haul trucking will be a formidable task. “Long-haul diesel trucks can operate up to 1,000 miles before needing to refill the tank, which takes 10 to 15 minutes to fill up,” writes Lopez. “But electric models have to be charged often because they have 'significantly shorter range' and they take hours to charge.”

“The charging infrastructure that is necessary to support these trucks is basically non-existent today. Even the fastest available chargers right now are going to take three to four hours to charge up to a full state,” said Chris Shimoda, a senior vice president at the California Trucking Association, which represents truck drivers.

“We’re flying blind into some pretty major questions about the practicality of actually implementing this rule,” Shimoda said.

How many zero-emission trucks on California roads?

The California Energy Commission operates a tracking website showing the current number of zero-emission medium and heavy duty vehicles by type (e.g., bus, panel van, drayage tractor) and manufacturer (e.g., Proterra, Freightliner).

On September 25, the total was 1,943: 70 percent were buses, 16 percent trucks and 14 percent delivery vans.

Additional reading

Related in Planetizen:

Friday, September 16, 2022 in CALmatters

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Washington

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing

A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

May 1 - Streetsblog USA

Bluebird sitting on branch of green bush.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire

Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

May 1 - AP News

1984 Olympics

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles

LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.

May 1 - Newsweek

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.