Despite the ending of the ACF rule, a long-term plan has the Port of LA pushing for ZEV transitioning. The transition to ZEVs (Zero-Emission Vehicles) has been marked by regulatory uncertainty for the port over the last few years. On April 28, 2023, California legislators passed the ACF (Advanced Clean Fleet) regulation. The ACF aimed to reduce emissions from medium and heavy-duty vehicles in California. When the Trump administration entered office, the CARB (California Air Resource Board) alerted the EPA to withdraw the ACF. Although the rule has ended, the Port of Los Angeles remains committed to the push for ZEV carriers. This article explains the ACF and how the LA port plans to transition to ZEVs.
What Is ACF and Why Did California Drop It?
ACF was a rule made to accompany the ACT rule for transitioning medium and heavy-duty vehicles to zero-emission vehicles. The regulation required fleets to adopt ZEVs, including battery electric, hydrogen fuel, and plug-in electric hybrids. Some of the provisions of the ACF rule included:
- The buying of only zero-emission vehicles by California state and government fleets by 2027
- Transitioning all existing drayage carriers in California to zero-emission by 2035.
- Finishing the sale of diesel trucks by 2036.
- Transitioning of all fleets in California to 100% zero-emission by 2042, depending on vehicle type.
- All heavy-duty truck sales in California are required to be fully zero-emission by 2045.
The ACF was part of a larger goal by California to reach carbon neutrality by 2045. CARB retracted its waiver request in January 2025 due to the anticipated resistance from the Trump administration. Enforcing stricter emissions standards in California depends on getting waivers from the EPA. There were also other concerns from the domestic shipping industry and other US states. A coalition of 16 states argued that the ACF would burden interstate commerce and lead to higher costs. Trucking industry stakeholders feared that it would be challenging to meet the provisions due to costs and infrastructure.
How Is the Port of LA Pushing for ZEVs?
Despite the withdrawal of the ACF rule, California ports continue to push for ZEV carriers. On May 22, the Port of LA announced a spending plan for clean trucks and supporting infrastructure. The plan will include guidelines on how the CTF (Clean Truck Fund) will allocate funds through 2028. A significant portion of CTF revenue will be allocated towards charging and fueling infrastructure projects. Similarly, the Port of Long Beach has also been at the forefront of the push for ZEV carriers. Noel Hacegaba, the port’s chief operating officer, noted, “Right from the very beginning, it was always intended to help incentivize the industry transition to zero-emission trucks.”
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