It is often said that where America leads, Europe follows. And if that’s going to be the case with electric trucks, then we can learn some lessons from recent developments in California, writes PowerTorque’s European Correspondent Will Shiers.

We spoke to a forward-thinking operator, who already has experience running a fleet of battery-powered trucks in the Golden State. But before that, let’s delve into the background.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is an agency in the government of California with the aim of reducing air pollution. While it does concern itself with CO2 emissions and global warming, its main emphasis is on air quality.

Formed in 1967, when California became the only state permitted by the federal government to enact its own automotive emissions regulations, over the decades it has introduced a plethora of rules and regulations all aimed at improving the quality of the air that its residents breathe. It has recently turned its attention to trucks, introducing some of the most stringent regulations yet.

In 2020, CARB introduced the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, which requires OEMs to sell an increasing percentage of zero tailpipe emissions trucks as the years progress. Then in 2023, it switched its attention from supply to demand, announcing details of its Advanced Clean Fleets programme.

This was a series of phased regulations culminating in all trucks operating in the state being zero tailpipe emissions by 2045. The first stage, which was set to be implemented on 31 December 2023, would see a ban on new internal combustion-engined heavy trucks being added to the state’s drayage registry.

In other words, operators purchasing new trucks to transport containers and bulk loads to and from California’s seaports and intermodal rail yards would have to invest in zero-tailpipe-emissions trucks. The problem with that plan however, was the limited choice of electric or fuel cell heavy-duty trucks on sale.

What’s more, the vehicles are eye-wateringly expensive, as is the provision of charging. While there are healthy grants available in California for purchasing both the vehicles and chargers, the processes of applying are complicated and time-consuming.

Not surprisingly the California Trucking Association wasn’t happy with the situation. It filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the imminent regulations, declaring that CARB had a ‘make-believe view’ of what could be achieved with the current technology and infrastructure.

The backlash had the desired effect, and in the 11th hour CARB withdrew the ruling, for now. But the reprise is only temporary, and some forward-thinking Californian operators are already future-proofing their fleets.