California’s previously announced plans to eliminate carbon emissions from vehicles in the coming decades has drawn the attention of the RV Industry Association, which put a couple of analysts on its staff to work deciphering exactly what the rules will mean in RV world.
California’s plans to prohibit the sale of new cars and trucks that emit carbon have gotten a lot of attention lately, but what’s most important for RVers to understand right now is that, in 2035, 12 years from now, these regulations will affect the vehicles that tow small travel trailers. That is, new vehicles that have a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 8,500 pounds will have to be zero-emission models. Then, five years after that, in 2040, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles with a GVWR heavier than 8,500 pounds – and the motorized chassis upon which motorhomes are built – will be subject to these regulations.
Since most RV OEMs do not manufacture tow vehicles or chassis, one might think this is a non-issue to the industry. But anything that affects RV customers and how they use their units, as these regulations surely do, is a big issue.
First the facts, then the concerns.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has established a requirement that 35% of new car and light-duty vehicle sales be zero-emission models by 2026 and 100% by 2035. According to the state’s Advanced Clean Trucks Act (ACT), zero-emission truck/chassis sales would need to be 55% of Class 2b – 3 truck sales, 75% of Class 4 – 8 straight truck sales, and 40% of truck tractor sales. The Advanced Clean Fleets regulation currently under development will increase those percentages to 100% by 2040.
Under the U.S. Clean Air Act, California is the only state permitted to create its own emissions standards rather than follow federal requirements.
Click here to read the rest of the report from RVIA staff.
