Trump’s Threat to EV Trucking Rules Undermines Big-Rig Bets

Stringent electrification regulations for the vehicles are teetering, hampering efforts to clean up one of the economy’s dirtiest sectors.

California enacted a rule in 2020, which has since been adopted by 10 other states, requiring truck makers to sell an increasing portion of emission-free models, including for the largest semi-trucks. California soon followed with another regulation requiring fleet owners to buy more zero-emission trucks. Drayage companies like Hight Logistics faced the most aggressive timeline: They would need to be 100% emission-free by 2035.

Meanwhile, the federal government last year tightened tailpipe requirements for heavy-duty vehicles, which would effectively force truck manufacturers like Daimler Truck AG and Volvo AB to produce dramatically more electric trucks.

Now these rules are teetering. President Donald Trump, who is taking aim at California’s more stringent vehicle requirements, is also expected to go after the federal tailpipe rules…

Some countries are figuring out how to do this much faster. While there are tens of thousands of small electric delivery vans plying the roads of the US, there were just over 3,000 electric heavy-duty trucks as of the middle of last year, according to CALSTART, a nonprofit focused on clean transportation. China now adds that many every 9 days, thanks to its cheaper batteries and lucrative incentives.

Coverage also seen in: Financial Post, Leader Post, and Yahoo UK.