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www.newsfromthestates.com
Summary

California has an aggressive mandate for zero-emission trucks, which are powered by electricity or hydrogen. But trucking companies face big obstacles — and people are still breathing dangerous diesel exhaust.

  • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.orgEnglish
    33·
    16 days ago

    I know you’re trying new a format, but personally not a fan of the summary in the spoiler. Just my two cents.

    Anyway…

    Starting in 2036, no new fossil-fueled medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks can be sold in California, and by 2042, large companies must convert their trucks to zero-emission models. … The trucking industry says the regulation is unreasonable and will wreak havoc on the economy, making it difficult to make long-haul shipments.

    They’ve got over a decade before the first change happens and nearly 2 decades before they would have to have their fleets converted (assuming I’m understanding that correctly). Yeah, the article has some good points about vehicle/cargo weight trade offs, hydrogen refueling availability, and charging/grid infrastructure. But again, 10-20 years. That’s plenty of time, and it’s not like that all has to happen in a vacuum.

    All the while, the problems all those trucks’ emissions are causing are still problems for residents and their health.

    IMO, the companies aren’t so much “struggling” as stamping their feet and saying “I don’t want to, and you can’t make me”

      • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.orgEnglish
        10·
        16 days ago

        Lol, exactly.

        It also makes me think of a contrary toddler refusing to eat until the parent basically shoves the spoon in its mouth, and the kid’s like “Oh, that’s pretty good”.

    • not_that_guy05@lemmy.world
      8·
      12 days ago

      Just like they are dragging their feet with installing life saving bars on the sides to prevent cars from going under them. It was a $50 piece and labor would be like $100.

      They said their companies would go bankrupt if they installed them.

      Dude 5 trucks a year, and you can’t afford it? Sucks, but other companies with fill in the void don’t worry.

    • StrawberryPigtails@lemmy.sdf.org
      6·
      16 days ago

      It’s not so much that we don’t want to as much as it is that the equipment needed doesn’t exist and neither does the required infrastructure, which is the bigger problem. Add to that the fact that most truck “companies” in the US have less than 10 truck and they were usually bought used…
      That said their is one company I’m watching that does seem to actually understand the problem, but they are mostly focusing on heavy haul and logging trucks. https://www.edisonmotors.ca/ Their trucks are going to be hybrid diesel electric which helps with the infra problem as opposed to Tesla’s all electric solution which requires an entire new infrastucture to be built when there isn’t enough truck parking as is in many places.

      • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.orgEnglish
        6·
        15 days ago

        Yeah, I get that. That’s kind of what I was referring to with “10-20 years” and “not happening in a vacuum”. The infrastructure is being deployed, and at this point, really, all they need to be doing is making plans for 5-10 years down the line (giving them 5-10 years after that, respectively, to implement those).

        This is assuming, of course, that 5-10 years is enough time for most trucking companies to deal with each phase. I’m assuming it is, but I could be a bit uninformed / naive with that assumption.

        • sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone
          3·
          15 days ago

          If you make plans for the trucking “companies” that are just 1 guy with a truck, and how he can afford to replace it.

          • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.orgEnglish
            4·
            15 days ago

            If it’s just one guy with a truck, I would imagine 10-20 years is enough time to save up for a trade-in, right?

            • sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone
              3·
              15 days ago

              I’m not sure I’m not a truck driver. But 5 years doesn’t sound long enough unless they’re was some kind of diesel buyback program.

        • StrawberryPigtails@lemmy.sdf.org
          2·
          15 days ago

          The trucking industry has a very long tail when it comes to equipment. Big trucking companies (100 plus trucks) generally replace their equipment every 3 to 5 years. Smaller companies (10 to 100 trucks) often buy a mix of new and used equipment with an average age somewhere in the 5 to 10 year old range. Then you have the majority of the trucking industry who buy whatever makes financial sense to them at that moment in time and then run it till they can no longer get parts or they hang up the keys. The latter being more common.

          As I was writing this a cab over Kenworth drove by the dock I’m currently parked at. They haven’t been made since the late 80’s, I think. Once the tech is available, then a 10 to 20 year time frame makes sense and will see some 90% to 98% of the old trucks replaced.

          • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.orgEnglish
            3·
            15 days ago

            Thanks for the insight.

            I have no experience with larger companies, but a neighbor growing up and a friend’s dad (separate people) both had 1-2 vehicle trucking companies. They were the “drive them till they fall apart” style like you mentioned.