Another Lawsuit Filed Over Calif. Emission Standards

The California Air and Resources Board (CARB) is facing yet another lawsuit against its Advanced Clean Fleets regulations. 

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) filed the suit Oct. 8 in the U.S. District Court’s Eastern District of California, accusing CARB of overstepping its authority. 

These regulations “are part of California’s efforts to ban the internal combustible engine entirely,” according to the lawsuit. 

Like the lawsuits before it, this one references the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act, Dormant Commerce Clause and Equal Protection Clause to accuse CARB of violating federal law. SEMA and NTEA are asking for the court to declare the regulations invalid and issue a permanent injunction against them. 

Advanced Clean Fleets rules require certain fleets to phase in zero-emission vehicles, while also requiring manufacturers to only produce zero-emission vehicles starting in 2036. While the rules were supposed to take effect Jan. 1, 2024, CARB has not yet received a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency to proceed.