Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) granted waivers to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) and the Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Omnibus regulations. These waivers will allow California to implement and enforce stricter emissions standards than federal regulations for the vehicles and technologies covered under these rules.
These two regulations are among seven waiver or authorization requests California currently has pending before the US EPA. The other requests include the Small Off-Road Engine authorization, Transport Refrigeration Unit authorization, In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets authorization, In-Use Locomotive authorization, and the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) waiver.
While the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulation received a waiver from the US EPA in March 2023, the state is still awaiting word on the status of the ACF waiver. ACT requires manufacturers to sell an increasing percentage of zero-emission trucks starting in 2024, aiming for 100% zero-emission truck sales by 2035. ACF mandates that fleets transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEV), with specific targets for drayage trucks, government fleets, and high-priority fleets.
The future of the ACF regulation remains uncertain as the Trump Administration prepares to take office on January 20, 2025. President-elect Trump previously rescinded California’s authority on emissions during his first term in 2019, only to be reversed by the Biden Administration in 2022. If he follows through on his current promises, it could lead to legal battles and delays in implementing California’s stringent emissions standards. This concern led Governor Gavin Newsom to meet with federal officials recently, advocating for California’s leadership on clean air initiatives and reinforcing the state’s commitment to advancing zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).
The ACC II regulations aim to reduce emissions from light- and medium-duty vehicles, requiring an increasing number of ZEVs to be sold each year, with a goal of 100% ZEV sales by 2035. This includes both electric and plug-in hybrids. The Omnibus regulation targets heavy-duty vehicles, setting stringent standards for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) to reduce smog and improve air quality.
More information is available from the following press releases: US EPA, CARB, Governor Newsom.