California Clean-Air Mandate Cracks Down on Truck Emissions

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A new California mandate ordering truck manufacturers to sell zero-emissions trucks introduces more space for electric vehicle manufacturers. Electric truck makers like Tesla and Nikola may have even more room to shine among the new mandate, announced just days ago. As the Los Angeles Times reports, “In effect, the board ordered manufacturers of medium-duty and heavy-duty commercial trucks to begin selling zero-emission versions in 2024, with 100,000 sold in California by 2030 and 300,000 by 2035.”

Given the timeline proposed by the mandate, electric truck makers are hustling to fill the need in the market. A race between Tesla and its latest ‘competitor’ Nikola was already underway before the public announcement of the mandate. With Nikola positioning a factory in Arizona, its approach to entering the electric Semi truck market differs from Tesla’s. However, with more photos of Tesla’s Semi surfacing last week, it’s clear the company is forging ahead on its electric Semi truck concept in California.

Medium and heavy-duty trucks represent an enormous environmental load. The new mandate from California officials aims to drastically reduce carbon emissions over the next decade and beyond. As Forbes reports, “A transition to zero-emission trucks provides a unique opportunity to help right multiple wrongs at once.” By addressing climate change and reevaluating modern transportation, California’s new mandate represents a huge opportunity for electric vehicle makers around the world.