Around the world, governments at various levels are currently in the process of developing plans to ease the transition to sustainable technology for transport fleets.
Perhaps the leading program has been instigated by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), whose Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Regulation leads the way in delivering the opening wave of zero-emission trucks to that state’s roads.
Tackling climate change is a difficult task, and especially in an area with such an expansive economy as California, there is an added emphasis on putting mandates in place to shape the thinking of business leaders.
California has aimed high, with challenging targets being put in place to lower pollutants from the transport task, which further to the obvious environmental results, also improves public health outcomes.
Stated targets currently include:
• Federal health-based ambient air quality standards (key dates in 2023 and 2031),
• 40 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG) by 2030,
• 80 per cent reduction in GHGs by 2050, and
• 50 per cent reduction in petroleum use by 2030
To achieve these outcomes, everyone from all walks of life must contribute to the solution.
Internal combustion-powered vehicles have been calculated to be behind around 80 per cent of smog-forming Nitrous Oxide emissions, 50 per cent of GHG emissions (including fuel production), and over 95 per cent of poisonous diesel particulate emissions.
By two significant measures, the ACT Regulation aims to see trucks converted to zero-emissions solutions, namely via:
• Zero-emission truck sales: Manufacturers who certify Class 2b-8 chassis or complete vehicles with combustion engines would be required to sell zero-emission trucks as an increasing percentage of their annual California sales from 2024 to 2035. By 2035, zero-emission truck/chassis sales would need to be 55 per cent of Class 2b–3 truck sales, 75 per cent of class 4–8 straight truck sales, and 40 per cent of truck tractor sales.
• Company and fleet reporting: Large employers including retailers, manufacturers, brokers and others are required to report information about shipments and shuttle services. Fleet owners, with 50 or more trucks, are required to report about their existing fleet operations. This information will help identify future strategies to ensure that fleets purchase available zero-emission trucks and place them in service where suitable to meet their needs.
To facilitate this switch, state and federal agencies, including CARB, plus different local air districts have put in place various funding programs for fleets to utilize, including the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project, which provides point-of-sale rebates to offset the upfront cost of advanced technologies.
The Switch is On
Other jurisdictions have caught on, with more than a dozen U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the Province of Quebec in Canada, now all sitting alongside California in a united front requiring manufacturers to offer zero-emissions solutions.
Significant modelling has taken place to show the possibilities for other states to convert to EV, and the figures are significant.
For instance, compared to a case where “business as usual” were to carry on in the state of Illinois, between 2020 and 2050, by adopting the ACT Regulation, 146,430 US tons of Nitrous Oxide emissions will be reduced, alongside 140 million metric tons of CO2 emissions.
If more ambitious targets were in place, including a 100 per cent heavy-duty ZEV sales target for 2040, those relative figures would grow to 252,240 US tons of Nitrous Oxide emissions saved, plus 187 million metric tons of CO2 emissions.
The story is similar elsewhere, with the necessary technology to make the switch already readily available.
SEA Electric’s Solutions
As leaders in the field of zero-emissions power-systems for the transport sector, SEA Electric has proven technology that is prime for scale uptake, and accelerate the push towards sustainability in the marketplace.
With a decade of experience in the Class 3 to 8 field, no matter the truck or bus size, platform or application, the SEA-Drive® power-system can be adapted to practically any fleet.
The architecture is the world’s most cost-effective 100 per cent electric power-system available in the commercial vehicle market, with zero local emissions, all while being incredibly quiet as it provides a powerful yet smooth ride.
Complete with an upgradable plug-and-play design, SEA Electric’s solutions are ready to meet your future needs, today.
