Bill SB 1213 unanimously passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee yesterday and states “the receipt of state funding should be conditioned upon full pricing transparency”. It will also aim to expand the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project to “allow for vouchers to be used to cover up to 90% of the total cost of the purchase of a vehicle”.
The bill follows evidence which shows that electric truck prices remain high in the U.S. and have increased, despite falling prices in Europe.
The bill is scheduled to go for discussion and a vote at the Transportation Committee on April 21. If it passes that stage it will go for a vote before the Senate and then, if passed, to the Assembly.
Craig Segall, former CARB official:
“This is a giant step forward at a time when the state urgently needs to save drivers and consumers on freight costs. By setting a course for affordable clean trucks, this bill will help clear the air and drop the cost of living.”
Jakob Evans Senior Policy Strategist at Sierra Club California wrote to the Chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee in support of the bill stating: “By requiring greater disclosure of truck pricing information for vehicles receiving public incentives, SB 1213 would give state agencies the tools they need to hold manufacturers accountable for selling electric trucks in California at the prices they offer abroad, and ensure our state incentive dollars go as far as possible to provide air pollution relief for communities most impacted by diesel pollution….SB 1213 is a commonsense reform that will help ensure every dollar committed to clean trucks delivers maximum public benefit.”
Juan Roberto Madrid, GreenLatinos Sustainable Communities Program Manager said:
“Latino truck drivers are already being crushed by diesel prices that have surged over 40% and well over $7 a gallon because of Trump’s Iran war — the largest oil supply disruption in history. SB 1213 with its core pillar of fostering a competitive market through pricing transparency offers Latino truckers and small businesses owners and fleets a leg up, opens the door for them to look at comparable hybrid and zero-emission trucks”
