California mandates electric trucks

California has passed bold new laws that will determine the fate of the transport industry in that state of the USA, and potentially the country as a whole.

California has led the way in the America to cleaning up the transport sector and has some of the most stringent anti-pollution laws in the country, but the latest rules, approved last Thursday, really show just how determined the state is.

According to CBS News, the rules, which would not take effect until 2024, will require at least 40 per cent of all prime movers sold in California to be zero emission by 2035. For smaller trucks, including models like the Ford F-250, 55 per cent of all sales would be zero emission by 2035.

However, the standard is the toughest for delivery trucks and vans, with 75 per cent of sales required to be zero emission by 2035.

"California is once again leading the nation in the fight to make our air cleaner, becoming the first place in the world to mandate zero emission trucks by 2045," Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. "Communities and children of colour are often forced to breathe our most polluted air, and today's vote moves us closer toward a healthier future for all of our kids."

There were fears that the trucks would be built but remain unsold because of their increased cost over diesel trucks, however regulators said they were aiming to establish rules next year that would require companies to purchase zero emission trucks from manufacturers, a move meant to ensure there is demand for the supply.

Already there are big government incentives for the purchasers of electric trucks and at least one mainstream company, Daimler Trucks, is fast-tracking its eCascadia and the smaller eM2 to take advantage of the surge that will occur in electric trucks in the USA.

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Trucksales.com.au got a sneak peek at the electric trucks when we visited Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) last year and we were mightily impressed at just how prepared the company was for the electric truck market.

"We want market leadership [in the electric truck market]," said Head of the EMG Platform, Michael Scheib.

"We'll be building here in Portland, Oregon, as it's close to California, which will be one of our first major markets. Also we have our testing area nearby."

Mr Scheib said there are huge incentives in California for operators who buy electric trucks so it makes sense to target that state for sales.