The California Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership (CNGVP) is an alliance of air quality, transportation and energy agencies, vehicle and engine manufacturers, fuel providers, transit and refuse hauler associations, and other stakeholders interested in increasing and strengthening the deployment of low-emission natural gas vehicles throughout California.
The Critical Need to Transform Heavy-Duty Transportation Emissions
Heavy-duty (HD) diesel trucks are the backbone of California’s thriving goods movement economy, but they also deliver a lot of negative impacts to the state. As the largest single source of emissions in California, HD diesel trucks cause smog and unhealthy air for 90% of Californians. HD diesel trucks emit NOx (oxides of nitrogen) and diesel particulate matter (DPM), which can cause a range of health issues including asthma, cancer, heart disease, and premature death. These impacts are particularly pronounced in California’s many disadvantaged communities (DACs) which are already overburdened by HD diesel truck emissions. In addition, HD diesel trucks are one of North America’s largest and most rapidly growing sources of climate-altering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which are detrimental to clean air.
California is facing several near-term deadlines to meet the minimum standards set by the federal government for clean and healthy air. Southern California only has until the end of 2022 to significantly cut smog-forming ozone emissions in order to reach these minimum federal requirements. Failure to meet these federal regulations can trigger fines and penalties, including withholding billions of dollars of federal highway funds. Of course, this is all in addition to the deadly toll diesel truck exhaust continues to take on the health of thousands of Californians on a daily basis.
Reducing diesel truck emissions is the only way that California can meet its clean air objectives. The state must find a way to get as many diesel trucks off the road as possible, and as quickly as possible, while ensuring industry can continue to thrive and grow the economy. With increasingly limited resources to achieve these multiple goals, the agencies responsible for providing healthy air for all Californians – especially those in DACs – must pursue the most immediate and most cost-effective solutions available.
The CNGVP Mission
The future envisioned by the CNGVP is one in which clean transportation is widely accepted and supported. By initiating efforts in California, we are helping to deliver the promise of NGVs by promoting research, development, demonstration, deployment, accessibility, commercialization, and legislative support. The success of our efforts in California will serve as a model for low-emission, alternative fuel initiatives in metropolitan areas across the country. The infrastructure and technologies developed today will provide a bridge to even cleaner transportation options and air quality tomorrow.
