By Jesse Lyon
By 2045, the mobility sector in California is required to have made a 100% conversion to Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs). The new rule, called the Advanced Clean Fleet (ACF) regulation, was approved by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in April 2023. Last mile delivery fleets must also meet ZEV conversion requirements ahead of 2045, by phasing in ZEVs and phasing out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
ZEV 101
A zero-emission vehicle uses a propulsion technology that does not produce internal combustion engine exhaust or other greenhouse gas emissions. ZEVs use electrons to power an electric motor. Those electrons come from two places. The most common type of ZEV is a battery electric vehicle (BEV). A BEV stores electrons in a battery, and then, when needed, those electrons are sent to an electric motor. Another form of ZEV is a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). In a FCEV, hydrogen is stored in the gas tank, and then when needed the hydrogen is sent to a fuel cell stack where hydrogen’s electron is peeled off and sent to power an electric motor. As a byproduct of the process, FCEVs produce pure water.
Pros and Cons of ZEVs
- BEV Pros –allow drivers to access 100% of the available torque the moment the “gas” pedal is pressed. They also eliminate the need for complex transmissions and produce no emissions of any kind.
- BEV Cons – a BEV in the form of a class 8 truck requires giving up hauling capacity due to the weight of the battery; they cannot be completely refueled in 10 or even 20 minutes; and BEVs quickly lose driving range unless the terrain is flat, with no wind, and a maximum outside temperature of 75 degrees.
- FCEV Pros – FCEVs share all of the pros of a BEV, but have the added advantage of a 10 to 20 minute refuel time. They also do not force their drivers to sacrifice hauling capacity, and perhaps within the next five years it could cost a lot less to fuel a FCEV than a class 8 truck with a diesel engine.
- FCEV Cons – lack of hydrogen fueling stations.
Leading the Way
As California leads the transition from fossil fuel-based vehicles to ZEVs, many other states are following suit with zero-emission mandates. Oregon and Washington are building networks of hydrogen fueling stations, and today the ZEV industrial base in Ohio is helping to give rise to the Honda CR-V e.
Not everyone is waiting for governmental action before converting to ZEVs: Last mile contractors are driving BEVs at several IKEA locations to reduce the company’s carbon footprint. And they’re not alone in this commitment. Several ecommerce companies and shippers are including ZEVs in their ambitious, climate-related corporate initiatives.
Last Mile, Forward-Thinking
As the continued demand for faster delivery puts more delivery vehicles on our roads, more greenhouse gas emissions are polluting the air. The negative impact that last mile delivery has on our climate and health will only continue to grow, as last mile grows. It is imperative that the last mile delivery segment partner with shippers and retailers to address clean shipping goals.
More Information on ZEVs
A report from the Environmental Defense Fund, Accelerating Zero-Emissions Delivery: An innovative approach to transforming the last mile addresses this topic and introduces a new financing model for Zero Emissions Delivery Zone (ZED Zone) that can accelerate commercial vehicle electrification and enable companies to hit their climate goals. The model can unlock substantial financial, social and environmental returns. For example, the report finds that by sponsoring just 15 zero-emissions delivery vehicles, companies can create $1M in health benefits from reduced air pollution.
Zero Emission Program Annual Progress Report from AC Transit provides detailed comparisons between diesel, battery electric, and fuel cell electric vehicles.
Jesse Lyon, PLUS
Jesse Lyon has twelve years of insurance experience including more than two years in the final mile segment as a commercial lines account manager for BizCHOICE. He is deeply interested in the fields of cyber liability and technology E&O as well as alternative fields such a renewable energy. His research has led to numerous published papers on those topics in the U.S. and the U.K.