Advanced Clean Fleets: California's green ambitions face heat

Republican legislators in California have requested to pause the implementation of the state’s Advanced Clean Fleets

In response to two fire-related accidents caused by ion batteries in trucks, which resulted in severe traffic disruptions, a coalition of Republican legislators in California has requested Governor Gavin Newsom to pause the implementation of the state’s Advanced Clean Fleets rule. These severe accidents not only affected traffic flow but also highlighted significant issues in emergency response capabilities.

Recent incidents include a serious accident on August 19 near Nyack, California, where a Tesla Semi electric truck caught fire and caused the closure of a portion of I-80 for 16 hours. According to KCRA-TV, emergency crews used thousands of gallons of water to control the blaze, which reached temperatures up to 1,000°F. Additionally, because lithium is highly flammable, California firefighters had to deploy aerial attacks, typically used for wildfires, to extinguish the fire.

Another similar accident occurred on Interstate 15 in Baker, California, on July 26. The California Highway Patrol reported that this incident, the first of its kind in the United States, caused significant disruptions to the detours on Interstate 40 over 80 kilometers. As a result, drivers were stranded on the road for several hours in very high temperatures.

Advanced Clean Fleets: resistance and opposition from legislators

On August 20, Assemblyman Tom Lackey sent a letter to Governor Newsom requesting a delay in the enforcement of the Advanced Clean Fleets mandate. The letter, signed by 20 Republican members of the Assembly and Senate, expresses concerns about safety and the state’s preparedness to handle emerging challenges related to electric trucks.

The letter underscores that recent incidents demonstrate California’s inadequate preparedness to address the unforeseen consequences of the Advanced Clean Fleets rule. Legislators point out that adding water to lithium-ion battery fires can release toxic fumes, and mention that these fires not only disrupt traffic and commerce but could also endanger lives and livelihoods. The letter argues that the prolonged closure of major interstate roads clearly illustrates the state’s lack of readiness for the proposed regulation.

The Advanced Clean Fleets rule requires that 100% of new truck sales be zero-emission vehicles by 2036. Although the rule allows the use of various zero-emission technologies, manufacturers have primarily focused on battery electric trucks.

The recent incidents coincide with the upcoming meeting of the U.S. Department of Transportation, scheduled for August 27, where the safety of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles in post-incident situations will be discussed. While Republican legislators are calling for a pause in the rule’s implementation, other states and stakeholders are seeking its outright repeal. The EPA’s decision on the exemption is crucial for the future of the Advanced Clean Fleets rule and its implementation in California.