The
announcement comes weeks after the California Air Resources
Board approved a groundbreaking policy to require manufacturers
to sell a rising number of zero-emission vehicles, starting in
2024 and to electrify nearly all larger trucks by 2045.
The 14 states said the voluntary initiative is aimed at boosting
the number of electric large pickup trucks and vans, delivery
trucks, box trucks, school and transit buses, and long-haul
delivery trucks, with the goal of ensuring all new medium- and
heavy-duty vehicle sales be zero emission vehicles (ZEV) by 2050
with a target of 30% ZEV sales by 2030.
The states include California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington and Vermont.
The states committed to developing a plan within six months to
identify barriers and propose solutions to support widespread
electrification, including potential financial incentives and
ways to boost EV infrastructure.
Trucks and buses represent 4% of U.S. vehicles, but account for
nearly 25% of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation
sector.
California's mandate will put an estimated 300,000 zero-emission
trucks on the road by 2035. California's planned rules will
initially require 5%-9% ZEVs based on class, rising to 30%-50%
by 2030 and nearly all by 2045.
The push comes as a rising number of companies - including
Rivian, Tesla Inc, Nikola Corp and General Motors - work to
introduce zero emission trucks.
Major businesses like Amazon.com, UPS and Walmart have also said
they are ramping up purchases of electric delivery trucks.
California later plans to adopt new limits on nitrogen oxide
emissions, one of the major precursors of smog, as well as
require large fleet owners to buy some ZEVs.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Tom Hogue)
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