California diesel fuel prices continue to hammer truckers at the pump. Now lawmakers are trying to make electric trucks less painful to buy.<\/p>\n
The Assembly Natural Resources Committee backed a bill aimed at cutting the huge price gap for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The Senate has already approved it.<\/p>\n
SB1213<\/a> would expand California\u2019s hybrid and zero-emission truck and bus voucher program. The vouchers could cover up to 90% of the purchase price.<\/p>\n Price tag under the microscope <\/p>\n Sen. Eloise Gomez Reyes, D-San Bernardino, says California needs to close a growing price gap.<\/p>\n Electric truck prices in Europe have dropped 27% in recent years. In the United States, prices have jumped 32%<\/a>.<\/p>\n Reyes said the rising price tags show California needs more transparency if it wants fleets to go electric.<\/p>\n Under the bill, manufacturers would have to reveal the suggested retail price for trucks and buses eligible for state zero-emission funding. That would give buyers and lawmakers a clearer look at what these vehicles really cost.<\/p>\n Reyes said it can be hard to tell how much trucks cost or how government subsidies affect price. That makes it tougher to know whether the gap between electric and diesel trucks is actually shrinking.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is important that as we provide funding to this sector, we also ensure meaningful price transparency,\u201d Reyes said. \u201cUnlike the passenger vehicle market, medium- and heavy-duty trucks lack publicly available pricing information.\u201d<\/p>\n The bill would also raise the number of electric trucks eligible for vouchers.<\/p>\n California would be directed to explore new financing options by 2028. Low-cost loans and guarantees tied to a truck\u2019s future value are among the ideas.<\/p>\n The rules would apply to programs funded through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, the California Clean Fuel Reward, or the Clean Transportation Program.<\/p>\n Reyes said current rules do not give lawmakers enough tools to track the market or oversee the money.<\/p>\n \u201cSB1213 addresses this while also providing direction to multiple departments to provide more options to support this growing market,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The bill awaits more action in the Assembly. If lawmakers approve changes, the bill would return to the Senate.<\/p>\n If signed into law, the new rules would take effect Jan. 1.<\/p>\n California Clean Fuel Reward <\/p>\n California is putting $250 million on the table to help fleets buy electric trucks.<\/p>\n