Early this week, California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) withdrew its request to move forward with regulations that could force a total ban on big diesel trucks in 2036. CARB had asked the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to grant them authority for the ban under its Advanced Clean Fleets program, which would’ve required truckers to buy zero-emissions trucks. CARB’s backpedaling could have implications for the so-called California motorhome ban. The CARB reversal is big news. But it’s too early for the RV industry to rejoice—the devil is in the details.
CARB reversal—”Uncertainty presented by the incoming administration”
The move, which surprised many industry insiders, comes just days before the inauguration of Donald Trump as president. Trump has vowed to roll back California’s air pollution rulings somehow, and the message got through to CARB. Yesterday, CARB’s Chair Liane Randolph said this in a statement: “Withdrawal is an important step given the uncertainty presented by the incoming administration that previously attacked California’s programs to protect public health and the climate and has said will continue to oppose those programs.”
While it will make a difference, the battle involving RVs in California—and other states that follow its lead—is far from over. The CARB decision doesn’t impact other California regulations, including those to reduce diesel truck emissions and phase out fossil-fuel car sales by the 2030s, which the EPA approved in December.
CARB reversal—”It’s in the right direction,” but…
We asked California RV dealer Tim DeMartini for his reaction to the CARB reversal. “It’s in the right direction, it’s good,” said the owner of DeMartini RV in Grass Valley, California. But DeMartini was quick to point out that there’s a big difference between killing off a total ban of big diesel sales in 2036 and the restrictions that are already in place.
Last year, in the light of CARB’s various rulings, several motorhome chassis manufacturers made the decision to simply stop selling motorhome chassis to RV manufacturers. That left DeMartini and other motorhome dealers in the lurch. But about a month ago, DeMartini says there was a loosening of that stance, “and about 10% of chassis” are now coming through.
Echoing Tim DeMartini’s thoughts are those of the president of the RV Dealers Association, Phil Ingrassia. In an email to RVtravel.com earlier today, Ingrassia told us this about the CARB reversal: “The CARB decision to withdraw its request for waivers that go beyond federal EPA standards for heavy truck emissions considers the realities of the market and is a step in the right direction.”
We asked the RV Industry Association for their thoughts on how this will affect manufacturers. As of press time, we hadn’t heard back.
On the whole, the CARB reversal still leaves muddy water. With other CARB rules still in play that have an effect on not only large motorhomes but also on other aspects of RVing, this latest move is but a piece of the action. We’ll continue to keep you up to speed.
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Thank you, Russ and Tina! Have a great day and safe travels! 🙂
Wow, insightful and constructive input, Neal! Well done! 👍
You’re very welcome, Chuck! Have a great day and safe travels! 🙂
“Wow, insightful and constructive input, Neal! Well done! 👍” And, again. I think it’s like gathering Facebook friends; look how many comments I’ve made!
Thank you, John S. Have at it! Have a great weekend and safe travels! 🙂
Love it!! 😃
Way to go Neal.
Thank you, KellyR! Always room for you and RV here in Ooltewah. 🙂
Neal, thanks for the invite. I just looked up Ooltewah and find that I may have bypassed it a number of times while on I-75 in a rush to somewhere. If in that area again, I will have to pull off the road. I may not remember how to spell it or pronounce it, but I sure can remember it.
Thanks again.
Hey KellyR, You are very welcome. Yes, exit #11 off I-75. Pronounce? Ignore the “L” and you’ll come close enough. Have a great day!
Even though it’s 11 years away, imagining that all trucks in CA (400k)will be electric by then is insanity. Then imagine the trucks coming from other states…what do they do at the border? This is bureaucratic nonsense and not sound logic.
California has way bigger pollution issues to take care of. On the NBC news last night they talked about the mega-tons of toxic pollutants being put into the atmosphere, and on land, from constant fires. It’s not just wood burning, it’s all the housing materials, appliances, etc. as well. They need to focus on public infrastructure, like water storage facilities, way better electrical systems, etc.
Wonder where they’re going to dump all the debris from the burned homes? According to their way of thinking everything is probably hazardous.
Thanks for the update! I’ll say it again, I think CARB is in fear of BIGtime lawsuits…
California did away with the Diesel ban on Thursday. Figuring the new administration would do away with it anyway.