California’s Proposal for Diesel Trucks Faces Challenges
(ConservativeHub.com) – As California continues to lead the country in converting vehicles to alternative fuels, some are starting to question whether the state will meet the ambitious goals it has set for itself. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently proposed phasing out diesel-powered heavy-duty rigs by 2035. But, some truckers are hesitant about the plan, citing various concerns.
If made law, the August proposal from CARB would ban manufacturers from selling heavy and medium-duty diesel or gas-fueled trucks in California, forcing companies to push electric models instead. In addition, it would force large trucking companies to switch their fleets to alternative energy vehicles by 2024. According to The Wall Street Journal, the hope is that this will move over 30,000 internal combustion engine rigs out of the state by 2035.
California is trying to force truckers to transition to hydrogen- and electric-powered trucks from as early as 2024. But truckers say they have nowhere to fill up on alternative fuel. https://t.co/JIwqTAikkF
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) November 20, 2022
However, the outlet reports that the state doesn’t have the charging infrastructure necessary for such a significant change. Additionally, constructing enough stations would take years and an immense amount of money. Finally, for truckers that own their vehicles themselves, the proposed switch would cost them around $150,000 for an electric option, two to three times more expensive than internal combustion options. Zero-emissions vehicles aren’t capable of traveling nearly as far as their predecessors.
California is not the only state in the US having trouble meeting green or emissions-related goals. Back in 2021, the Star Tribune reported that Minnesota was falling short on efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, the Colorado Sun reported that experts estimated the state would need to cut about 10 million tons of yearly transportation emissions to follow through on its 2025 plans.
Many states are pushing for more environmentally friendly options, but a common question popping up is whether they have the resources to make these goals a reality. What do you think of ongoing efforts to reduce emissions?
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