California Becomes Epicenter of Emerging Truck Technology

(May 27, 2020) - With its emissions mandates, tough labor laws, inspection requirements and extensive regulations, California has become both a difficult and expensive environment for trucking. Nonetheless, the state’s role in trucking technology development, both for zero-emission commercial vehicles and autonomous driving, is starting to push industry advances, motor carrier executives and analysts said. The state’s subsidies for vehicle acquisition and infrastructure are creating the initial volume the industry requires to calculate the real-world cost of operation for electric and hydrogen powered trucks. Initial users of electric trucks are finding that many drivers like them better than diesel counterparts because they make less noise and have lower cab temperatures. Carriers also spend less on fuel costs and maintenance expenses. The big hurdle is that without incentives, the purchase price can be double or more the cost of a standard diesel truck. Volvo Trucks, Daimler Trucks North Amer­ica, Tesla, Toyota and Kenworth all are involved in major programs, working with logistics operators and shippers in Southern California to test battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks. The development of zero-emission technology for commercial vehicles, combined with autonomous driving research, has created thousands of jobs in California.

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