Trucks release a plethora of harmful greenhouse gasses and pollutants that not only endanger human communities, but also our environment. This week, we spoke to Mr. Ruben Aronin about various policies mandating zero-emission trucks throughout the United States. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/clean-trucks-with-ruben-aronin/.
Clean transportation policies promoting sustainability have progressed over the years and have become even more important, both because transportation represents the largest portion of greenhouse gas emissions and because climate change has been accelerating at unprecedented rates. The public is likely more familiar with zero-emission cars, but zero-emission trucks are also becoming an integral part of mitigating climate and other environmental impacts.
The transportation industry as a whole has been the biggest source of greenhouse gasses over the time period since the Industrial Revolution. Impacts of emissions associated with transportation include harm to the environment as well as to human health. Trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles constitute six percent of the on-road fleet but produce up to 26 percent of transportation-based greenhouse gas emissions along with a plethora of pollutants that can cause various types of cancer, asthma, and other respiratory challenges. Diesel-fueled trucks and other large vehicles can also cause noise pollution and take an out-sized toll on road infrastructure.
Zero-emission trucking can help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and emissions of other pollutants into the environment. By one estimate, US regions could save $735 billion in public health benefits due to cleaner air and result in 1.75 million fewer asthma attacks. The Inflation Reduction Act provides incentives for the manufacturing and purchasing of zero-emission trucks. People who buy zero-emission vehicles, for example, can receive significant tax breaks, subsidies, and even discounts on road tolls. Moreover, it is common for zero-emission trucks to be exempt from vehicle dimensions and weight restrictions
Although zero-emission trucks–battery electric trucks and hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks–as a whole have a lot of advantages, they still face significant challenges. For example, clean trucks may still be ill-suited for the range demanded of long-haul applications. Even with IRA incentives, clean trucks can be two and a half to three times more expensive than the diesel equivalent, although the cost of fuel and maintenance is likely less. Battery electric trucks can take up to four times longer than their diesel equivalent to charge. And even though hydrogen-operated trucks are more efficient than battery electric trucks, the US currently lacks the necessary hydrogen infrastructure to make them truly feasible.
In addition, hydrogen trucks, when fully charged, have a range that is about 500 miles and battery electric… [about] 180 to 250. By comparison, a diesel truck running a full load can have a range of roughly 1000 to 1200 miles. Because the sustainable alternatives are heavier, they actually would end up carrying less and more trucks would be needed to do the same amount of work as a single diesel-powered truck could, increasing operational costs and decreasing efficiency.
Ruben Aronin is working to pave a path towards zero-emission mobility in the United States (especially California) with his team at Better World Group. They have worked to support multiple policies, including the Advanced Clean Truck Rule which is a significant part of California’s zero-emission truck policy. That rule mandates that manufacturers–provided with four years of lead time–increase electric truck vehicle sales every year from 2025. Additionally, it promotes a 100% sales requirement of zero-emission trucks by 2036.
Mr. Aronin believes that the Advanced Clean Truck Rule along with another policy, called the Advanced Clean Fleet Rule, will enable the quickest transitions to zero-emission trucks, particularly in the most pollution-burdened communities. His coalition includes the Teamsters and others to help ensure labor and environmental justice support. He also recognizes that it is often economically difficult or unfeasible for companies and individuals to purchase zero-emission trucks. To this end, tax credits and investments from the federal IRA and IAJ are essential. As the market grows, Mr. Aronin says that the price of the electric truck components and batteries are decreasing at a rapid pace.
Ruben Aronin, current principal of The Better World Group, acts to advance clean transportation policies. He joined the BWG in 2012 and currently helps to lead BWG’s advanced transportation project work. Aronin has previously created and implemented effective environmental policy initiatives to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy in over a dozen states across the country (including California).
For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/clean-trucks-with-ruben-aronin/.
Ethan: I’m Ethan Elkind, and you’re listening to Climate Break. Climate solutions in a hurry. Today’s proposal: requiring truckmakers to produce zero-emission trucks. I spoke with Ruben Aronin, a principal with the climate-justice nonprofit Better World Group, where he leads the firm’s advocacy for clean transportation in California. Aronin described the key policy California passed to mandate zero-emission trucks: the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, or ACT.
Mr. Aronin: Twelve states have aligned with California to adopt this zero emission truck policy. It gave manufacturers four years lead time, so we're just going to begin to see sales growing in twenty-five and beyond. And that requires truck manufacturers to increase vehicle sales proportionately year over year.
Ethan: Zero-emission trucking is an important solution not only for protecting the environment from greenhouse gas emissions, but also for protecting the communities affected by harmful pollution.
Mr. Aronin: Too many communities, frontline communities and communities of color live in freight burdened communities, port side in warehouses, and the advanced clean truck rule is great in requiring sales of trucks anywhere within a state.
Ethan: Aronin notes that other states are free to join California’s approach, creating a larger multi-state market, like what they did for passenger electric vehicles.
Mr. Aronin: We're looking at a significant mover of states that we hope will get us to a tipping point really to be competitive with Europe and China. They are leading the way on developing and deploying electric trucks and we're playing catch up in the United States.
Ethan: To learn more about zero emission trucking policies, visit climatebreak.org.