The Coalition tracked the following bills and others that affect alternative fuels and vehicles throughout the legislative session, which ended on Sept. 15. The governor had to act on all bills by Oct. 15. The Legislature will reconvene on Jan. 3 for the second half of this two-year session.
In brief: Gives the South Coast AQMD the authority to adopt rules and regulations requiring operators of public and commercial fleet vehicles to purchase and run zero-emission and near-zero-emission vehicles in the district. Read the fact sheet.
Status: Now a two-year bill.
In brief: Defines a heavy-duty vehicle as having a manufacturer’s maximum gross vehicle weight of 26,001 or more pounds.
Details: Existing law defines a heavy-duty vehicle as having a manufacturer’s maximum gross vehicle weight of 6,001 or more pounds.
Status: Now a two-year bill.
In brief: Allows drivers of high-occupancy vehicles, superlow- and ultralow-emission vehicles, partial zero-emission vehicles, or transitional zero-emission vehicles to use HOV lanes for four years after vehicle identifiers are issued.
Details: These provisions would be repealed on Sept. 30, 2025.
Status: Signed into law.
In brief: Requires that by Dec. 31, 2025, at least 15 percent of all state-purchased vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 19,000 pounds or more be zero emission, and that by Dec. 31, 2030, at least 30 percent of those vehicles be zero emission.
Details: The Coalition requested amendments to include near-zero-emission options for heavy-duty vehicles, allowing state fleets to start reducing emissions immediately.
Status: Signed into law.
In brief: Extends funding for early commercial deployment of zero- and near-zero-emission heavy-duty truck technology to Dec. 31, 2020.
Details: Existing law requires CARB to allocate, until Jan. 1, 2018, at least 20 percent of funding for a specified class of projects to support the early commercial deployment of market-ready zero- and near-zero-emission heavy-duty truck technology.
Status: Signed into law.
In brief: Allows a heavy-duty NGV to exceed the state limit on total gross weight for on-road vehicles by up to 2,000 pounds. Requires the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, or the Department of Transportation to estimate by Oct. 1, 2018, the damage caused by heavier vehicles.
Details: The higher weight limit reflects the difference between the weight of a natural gas tank and fueling system and the weight of a comparable diesel tank and fueling system. Read the fact sheet.
Status: Now a two-year bill.