Republicans in California demand that Governor Newsom postpone electric truck regulations
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Republicans in the House are calling on Governor Gavin Newson to delay his clean fleet order that would require large trucks in California to be all-electric by 2045.
County Rep. Tom Lackey’s legislative letter to the governor was sent after eastbound Interstate 80 was closed for 16 hours after an all-electric Tesla semi-trailer caught fire near Emigrant Gap in Northern California.
The Tesla Semi crashed and triggered a hazardous materials incident after the battery caught fire, sparking a blaze that released toxic fumes, authorities said.
The Tesla’s battery burned at around 1,000 degrees and firefighters used “thousands and thousands” of gallons of water trying to cool the wreckage, CHP officer Jason Lyman told KCRA-TV.
Firefighters had to wait until the lithium-ion batteries were empty, burned out and cooled to a temperature of 100 degrees. Toxic fumes from the battery also posed a danger if inhaled, Lyman said.
The letter also referred to the July 26 incident when a diesel truck carrying six lithium-iron batteries caught fire north of Baker on I-15.
The fire caused the highway to be completely closed for nearly two days, and I-40 in Southern California was backed up for nearly 50 miles.
Newsom’s September 2020 executive order requires medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to be zero-emissions by 2045 and trucks at the state’s ports by 2035.
Drayage is the transportation of cargo from a seaport to a destination. According to Next Trucking, it is also often described as the process of transporting goods over short distances, also known as “the first mile.”
The letter
State leaders asked Newsom tough questions, including: What would happen if more lithium battery fires broke out on California’s highways?
“If a diesel truck with six batteries can shut down a major highway for 48 hours, what will happen when the highways are swarming with electric trucks powered by those batteries?” the letter states.
Unlike a diesel truck, it is impossible to extinguish a fire in an electric vehicle. The consequences are even greater, firefighters explained.
In addition, the batteries of an electric truck can weigh up to 7.2 tons, which makes recovering the stranded truck difficult at best. The road must remain closed until the batteries burn out, the letter states.
Thermal runaway can also lead to rapid fire spread and the release of toxic gases.
“The massive closure of a California highway shows that the State of California is not ready for your Advanced Clean Fleets mandate,” the letter said.
Other questions for Newsom were:
- Does his government have a plan to respond to electric truck fires?
- What strategies are being used to prevent long road closures?
- Will Caltrans work with local authorities to help stranded motorists?
- If a lithium-ion battery fire occurs again, how will Newsom’s administration protect surrounding communities from toxic fumes?
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“Ill-considered mandate”
Public safety is not the only concern related to this “ill-conceived mandate,” the letter says.
The sweeping requirements will negatively impact many employers and residents of the state, so we are asking you to delay implementation of your Advanced Clean Fleet Mandate, the letter said.
Lackey added in his letter to X that the closure of both highways not only prevented motorists from traveling, but also had an impact on our economy.
“Freight traffic has also been halted,” Lackey posted on X. “California must delay Advance Clean Fleets mandates until state infrastructure is prepared.”
The letter to Newsom was signed by Lackey and 20 lawmakers, including Senator Scott Wilk of the 21st Senate District and Senator Rosilicie Ochoa-Bogh of the 23rd Senate District.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
