As expected, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted to approve amendments to the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulation and the Zero-Emission Powertrain (ZEP) certification process at its July 24 Board Meeting, fulfilling commitments made under the now legally uncertain California Truck Partnership (CTP). The vote was not unanimous—Board Member Dean Florez abstained, and Member Takvorian opposed the changes, citing concerns that they could slow zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption and negatively impact air quality in disadvantaged communities.

Since then, the regulatory landscape has shifted dramatically. Last week’s actions—including legal challenges by the U.S. Department of Justice, lawsuits filed by several truck manufacturers, and the antitrust declaration by the Federal Trade Commission—have have challenged the validity of the CTP, which could affect enforcement of California’s EV rules. These developments question the enforceability of CARB’s newly approved amendments and raise questions about the future direction of California’s clean truck strategy.

However, a notable development during the July CARB meeting was the Board’s potential openness to consider the contribution of low NOx trucks certified to the 50 mg NOx Omnibus standard. During public comment, Clean Energy, CRTA, and The Transport Project proposed expanding the definition of “near-zero emission vehicles” (NZEVs) to include these trucks. Several board members responded favorably to the proposal, and Chair Randolph directed CARB staff to prepare a memo on the topic for the September 2025 Board meeting, where further regulatory updates are expected.

While this development represents a positive shift in tone, the uncertain legal status of California’s EV regulations makes the outcome of any future changes unpredictable.