Congress axes CARB’s EV truck mandates

The U.S. Senate voted today to eliminate two EV truck mandates initiated by the California Air Resources Board.  

The Senate approved two House resolutions aimed at revoking Environmental Protection Agency waivers granted to CARB last year for its Low-NOx Omnibus and Advanced Clean Trucks rules, nearly eliminating them. The rules will be officially nullified when the resolutions are approved by President Donald Trump. 

CARB’s Low NOx rule aims to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from heavy-duty trucks by 75% from 2024 to 2026 and 90% starting in model year 2027, according to CARB. Advanced Clean Trucks requires truck manufacturers to sell an increasing number of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) over the next decade, targeting 75% ZEV for all Class 4 to Class 8 truck sales by 2035. 

Truck dealers have pushed back against CARB’s mandates, citing challenges such as: 

• Inadequate charging infrastructure; 
• High upfront costs;
• An arduous incentive approval process; and  
• Unrealistic sales requirements.  

Trucking industry, CARB respond 

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) trade group called the Senate’s decision a “monumental victory” for the trucking industry in a release today. 

“Today’s Senate votes send a resounding message nationwide that this is not the United States of California, nor will it ever be,” ATA President Chris Spear stated. “We appreciate the leadership of President Trump, EPA Administration Zeldin and leaders in Congress who listened to our concerns and acted decisively to reverse these destructive rulemakings, which would have decimated our industry and unleashed a torrent of economic pain on the American families and businesses that we serve.” 

Meanwhile, CARB Chair Liane Randolph called the decision “unconstitutional, illegal and foolish.” 

“It’s an assault on states’ rights the federal administration claims to support that puts national air quality standards out of reach and will have devastating effects for the 150 million Americans who breathe unhealthy air every day,” she stated in a release today.  

“These actions are contrary to the text of the Congressional Review Act, as recognized by the nonpartisan U.S. Government Accountability Office and the Senate parliamentarian. California will pursue every available remedy to challenge these actions and defend our right to protect the public from dangerous air pollution.” 

Nine other states have adopted both Low-NOx and Advanced Clean Trucks rules, including: 

• Colorado; 
• Massachusetts; 
• New Jersey; 
• New Mexico; 
• New York 
• Oregon; 
• Rhode Island; 
• Vermont; and 
• Washington