California withdraws Advanced Clean Fleet EV mandate waiver

The state of California has decided to withdraw its controversial Advanced Clean Fleet waiver, which would have mandated that commercial fleets switch to zero-emission vehicles.

Advanced Clean Fleet waiver

The waiver aimed to expand California’s emissions rules above and beyond the EPA’s emissions requirements.

According to the California Air Resource Board, “The ACF Regulation requires fleets that are well suited for electrification to reduce emissions through requirements to both phase-in the use of Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) for targeted fleets and requirements that manufacturers only manufacture ZEV trucks starting in the 2036 model year.”

Withdrawing the waiver request, which the EPA had yet to decide whether or not to approve, means the Advanced Clean Fleet rule will most likely not be implemented.

Controversy over the rule

The controversy over the rule was centered around the forced adoption of EVs. Organizations like SEMA, have filed a lawsuit over the rule since it harms their members who work in the automotive space in various capacities.

“SEMA and its thousands of members in the automotive aftermarket industry are thrilled to learn of California’s decision on Advanced Clean Fleets, which represents a reprieve from the significant national implications that the policy would have wrought. Advanced Clean Fleets would have crippled interstate commerce by implementing harmful EV mandates on the trucking fleets that drive our nation’s economy. 

Now, we demand that California immediately halt its premature implementation and enforcement action already underway. The law is clear that, without its waiver, California has no foundation upon which to implement this policy,” said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola in a statement. 

“SEMA will continue our efforts to ensure the defeat any shortsighted attempts to enact EV mandates, and instead champion a technology-neutral approach that rewards innovation, ingenuity and practicality.”

Our take

Everyone wants clean air, however, there shouldn’t be a forced mandate to do so that would cause undue burden on businesses. Also, there should be a variety of engine technology solutions rather than a focus on just one technology.