The ACF is here… compliance for your government fleet starts today.

In April 2023, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule. It requires fleets to transition to zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs, such as EVs) and is changing everything about how fleets operate.

First and foremost, fleet managers must understand when the ACF will apply to them. For government fleets, the ACF impacts them today.

If you operate a government fleet in California, the ACF applies now and CARB requires you take action today.

This is the first in a series of short posts helping government fleet managers figure out what they need to do. Complying with the ACF is a big undertaking – but one you can manage if you take action today alongside the right experts.

So: does the ACF impact your fleet?

The ACF casts a wide net — nearly every city, county, state and federal fleet operating in California is impacted starting January 2024.

• City, county, state fleets: if you make use of any vehicles over 8,500 lbs GVWR, the ACF applies to you.
• Rent or hire – it still counts: even if you only rely on vehicles over 8,500 lbs temporarily through vehicles-for-hire or by dispatching work via a freight broker, it counts.
• Federal fleets: all federal fleets operating in CA are affected this year. Your class 2b-8, yard tractors, and light-duty delivery vehicles are impacted.

Do you use any vehicles over 8,500 lbs? Then your reporting deadline is April 1st 2024.

Are there exceptions?

• Transit agencies: if you’re already complying with ICT regulations for bus electrification, then ACF requirements only begin applying to your maintenance & support trucks in 2030. Basically, CARB wants to avoid distracting you from getting bus electrification finished.
• Waste utilities: if your fleet is exclusively fueled by Compressed Natural Gas or Bio-Methane, you are generally exempt from compliance until 2027 or 2030.
• Small population counties: Agencies who (1) operate fewer than 10 trucks AND (2) are located in a low population county in the map below are exempt from ACF compliance until 2027.

The bottom line: Most government fleets need to start purchasing and operating ZEV vehicles this year.

This means you need to plan your transition, and understand starting now how you will manage all your reporting to CARB.

Two ways to comply

 

Path 1 is straightforward, but difficult. This is the default path unless you elect for path 2 by April 1st, 2024. To learn how to elect for path 2 in time contact us.

• 50% of fleet purchases must be ZEV or NZEV each year in 2024-2026
• 100% of fleet purchases must be ZEV by 2027
• For federal fleets all newly added trucks must be ZEV starting 2024

Path 2 gives you some breathing room to figure out procurement, charging, and operations.

• Convert a portion of your fleet to ZEVs each year.
• 10% by 2025, 25% by 2028, 100% by 2035.
• Extensions and purchase exemptions available.
• Allows for compliant fleets with electrifying light duty vehicles – the easiest to manage.

What does this mean for you?

Compliance is a two pronged process: electrifying your fleet and reporting to CARB.

Fleet electrification is hard, we can help you:

• Evaluate sites
• Decide what vehicles to electrify first
• Buy and lease ZEVs
• Build charging
• Work with utilities
• Coordinate EV operations
• Apply for incentives and grants like Make Ready

Reporting is time consuming, we can help you:

• File and submit initial reporting by April 1st
• Verify fleet compliance through TRUCRS
• Purchasing and odometer reporting
• Annual record keeping and reporting
• Apply for special exemptions and extensions

 

Port Power makes EV as easy as diesel

Port Power was founded by EV industry veterans to solve this exact problem. We are a full solution provider that partners with fleet operators and their real estate partners to solve the charging problem today and scale it to handle all future needs.

Whether you are a fleet operator buying your first EV trucks or a city administrator tasked with figuring out your plan, reach out to schedule a consultation with the team at Port Power for help with:

• Clearly understanding the transition timelines that apply to your business
• Getting the full range of options you have to manage this transition
• Having a soup-to-nuts, managed solution for all your charging needs
• Getting the government incentives your business deserves without the headache of manual reporting

Get in touch with us today: https://portpower.us/contact/