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Lane Center researchers recently published a report with recommendations to help implement California's zero-emissions vehicle mandate. Read the report here: City and County Fleet Electrification under California’s Advanced Clean Fleet Regulations: Preliminary Findings on Progress and Key Challenges.
In a February 2024 policy brief, "Overcoming roadblocks to California's public EV charging infrastructure," researchers Esther Conrad, Preeti Hehymeyer and Bruce Cain offer recommendations for how to expand the electric vehicle market in California and ensure access to charging stations.
City and County Fleet Electrification under California’s Advanced Clean Fleet Regulations
As part of California’s goals for a zero-emissions future, in 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom mandated that new passenger vehicles be zero-emission by 2035. In his executive order, the governor also called for 100% of medium and heavy-duty vehicles to transition to zero-emissions by 2045. "Advanced Clean Fleets" regulations (ACF) with specific timetables for achieving this ambitious change were established in late 2023. For many public entities, 100% of new purchases of medium and heavy-duty vehicles must be zero-emission by December 2027.
How have local agencies been managing this massive transition? Since the spring of 2024, Bill Lane Center researchers have been investigating local government efforts to comply with California’s ACF regulations. Students and faculty, in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), are engaged in ongoing research to better understand the ACF compliance process, and the barriers that cities and counties have encountered.
As this work continues, preliminary findings suggest that extensive time and effort will be required by local jurisdictions to meet ACF requirements. Key steps in the compliance process include developing fleet inventories, understanding compliance mandates, planning vehicle purchases and charging infrastructure, and navigating funding opportunities. Challenges with EV procurement, funding and staff capacity, technical assistance, current technologies, safety and charging logistics, and grid capacity have emerged along the way. Lane Center researchers have engaged in hours of conversations with city and county officials and are currently developing recommendations to address the obstacles noted above. Initial recommendations are available in the Bill Lane Center report, City and County Fleet Electrification under California’s Advanced Clean Fleet Regulations: Preliminary Findings on Progress and Key Challenges.
