The California Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation, which began being implemented on January 1, 2024, is designed to complement the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, which mandates a significant increase in the number of medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) on California roads. There’s much to understand about the regulation and how it will impact fleets of all sizes.
ACF is part of the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) broader strategy to ensure a cleaner environment. This mandate will reshape the landscape for fleets of all sizes. This overview will provide an understanding of the ACF regulation, emphasizing the need for early action and strategic planning to ensure compliance and contribute to environmental sustainability.
Implemented on April 28, 2023, the ACF regulation is a move by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to transition the state's medium- and heavy-duty trucking sector to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2045, supporting CARB's objectives to counteract climate change and enhance air quality. Starting in 2024, this regulation mandates a broad spectrum of fleets - including those deemed high-priority, drayage, and public fleets - to systematically incorporate ZEVs into their operations.
This regulation represents a crucial step in California's commitment to a sustainable, zero-emission transportation future, emphasizing the need for businesses to adapt and innovate in response to evolving environmental mandates.
The regulation targets on-road vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) greater than 8,500 pounds, off-road yard tractors, and light-duty mail and package delivery vehicles part of fleets with 50 vehicles or more. It applies not just to vehicles registered in California but also to those entering the state from elsewhere, treating them as part of the California fleet for the entirety of the calendar year they operate within the state.
Starting January 1, 2024, the ACF regulation will affect any fleet conducting business in California. High Priority fleets—entities owning, operating, or having control over at least one vehicle in California and either generating $50 million or more in gross annual revenue or controlling 50 or more vehicles—must adhere to specific reporting and compliance mandates.
Fleets have two primary options for compliance: the Model Year Schedule and the Zero Emission Milestone Phase-In Pathway. Each pathway has its own set of deadlines and requirements, with the initial reporting due by February 1, 2024. Additionally, manufacturers face a sales mandate to sell only ZEVs for Class 2b-8 vehicles starting in 2036.
