CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Chula Vista joined the push to reach net zero carbon emissions. The city, California Air Resources Board and CALSTART hosted the first ever zero emission truck event Friday. On display were several zero emission vehicles that run on battery and others on hydrogen.
While some zero emission trucks are already on the road, the attention to switch to these types of vehicles comes from the change in policy that Governor Newsom signed recently.
The policy prohibits large trucks and buses made before 2010 to operate on California roadways starting in 2024. The rule applies to diesel vehicles that weigh at least 14,000 pounds and also aligns with the California Air Resources Board Regulation that aims to achieve a 100% zero emission truck and bus fleet in California by 2045.
The new regulations are looking to protect some of the state's most vulnerable communities that sit near trucking corridors and warehouse locations that have some of the worst air in the nation and those areas include southeastern San Diego and South Bay.
“The need right now is greatest given where we are in just climate change. I think we see it, we experience it every day on the other hand we also start to figure out that asthma rates and our health outcomes especially in communities of color and poorer communities have been affected by breathing in diesel,” said CALSTAR State Policy Director Orville Thomas.
A couple of concerns raised include truckers noting they some cannot afford to get rid of their current diesel trucks, saying zero emission trucks are expensive. Another concern from truckers on both sides of the border is worry about implementing an all zero emissions truck inventory since Mexico lacks technology.
Friday’s event also had opportunities to find out information on grant opportunities for zero emission heavy duty vehicles and learn about changes in policies.
Watch Related: Following California’s lead, EPA proposes national standards to ramp up electric cars (April 12, 2023)