California's Drive For Zero-Emission Vehicles Continues

On September 23rd, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a precedent-setting executive order cementing California's continued effort to take the lead on clean vehicle policy. Executive Order N-79-20 establishes as a goal that, where feasible, all new passenger cars and trucks, as well as all drayage/cargo trucks and off-road vehicles and equipment, sold in California, will be zero-emission by 2035.  The order sets a similar goal requiring that all medium and heavy-duty vehicles will be zero-emission by 2045 where feasible. These goals will be implemented by the California Air Resources Board ("CARB") through regulations yet to be developed.

Governor Newsom's executive order comes on the heels of the Advanced Clean Trucks Rule, issued by CARB in June.  That rule requires that, beginning in 2024, a certain percentage of each truck manufacturer's sales into California must be from zero-emission vehicles with a target that by 2045, all new trucks sold in California must be