The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has withdrawn its request for a federal waiver to phase out diesel trucks and force fleet operators to transition to zero-emission vehicles, including hydrogen-powered models.
CARB withdrew the waiver request for the Advanced Clean Fleet (ACF) rule on January 13, which would have seen the phase-out of new diesel-powered semi-trucks and buses by 2036.
Additionally, CARB proposed to ban the use of locomotive engines older than 23 years by 2030 to decarbonise the freight rail system and introduce new zero-emission technologies.
However, after the EPA failed to approve the acts in time, which were opposed by industry members due to costly mandates, CARB pulled the waiver.
It comes ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday (January 20), which has sparked various climate backtracks from organisations across the US.
Approved by Californian regulators in 2023, CARB’s ACF rule would have reduced California’s on-road emissions by 25%. Drayage operators were required to transition to hydrogen or electric-powered trucks by 2035, whilst other heavy-duty transportation operators were required to comply by 2045.
A waiver is a legal provision that allows a state to bypass specific federal regulations or rules under certain conditions, giving policymakers the authority to establish stricter standards than those set at the federal level.
California is the only state in the US with the authority to request such a waiver from the EPA, a privilege granted due to the state’s unique air quality challenges.
In a statement, CARB’s Chair, Liane Randolph, said, “While we are disappointed that the US EPA was unable to act on all the requests in time, the withdrawal is an important step given the uncertainty presented by the incoming administration that previously attacked California’s programmes to protect public health and the climate and has said will continue to oppose those programmes.”
Last December (2024), the Biden administration allowed California to ban new gas-powered car sales by 2035. Although, Trump has already vowed to roll back the ruling once in office.
Earlier this month, CARB announced the state was likely to fall short of its 2025 target to deploy 200 hydrogen refuelling stations by almost 60%, highlighting the challenges California is facing in reaching environmental goals.
Read more:California to fall short of 200 hydrogen station target by 60%, CARB reports
CARB’s 2024 evaluation report estimated that by the end of 2025, just 87 stations will have been established and will still miss the 2030 target with only 129 stations. Currently, the Californian hydrogen refuelling network boasts 62 stations.
