Air district, manufacturers to work on developing zero-emission trucks

The regional air quality agency that oversees Inland skies has received $23.6u2009million in funding for a program to develop and demonstrate zero-emission short-haul trucks that originate at seaports and use several freight corridors.

The project includes several other Califoia air-quality agencies and four major truck manufacturers — BYD, Kenworth, Peterbilt, and Volvo.

Joining the South Coast Air Quality Management District in the project are air districts in the Bayu2009Area, Sacramento, Sanu2009Diego and Sanu2009Joaquin Valley, said the Califoia Air Resources Board, which aounced the funding and outlined the program.

The goal is to produce 43u2009zero-emission battery electric and plug-in hybrid drayage trucks — the type used to haul cargo containers from ocean ports to distribution centers and rail yards.

The demonstration trucks and charging stations will be used in all the participating districts. The South Coast Air Quality Management District includes the populous areas of Riverside, Sanu2009Beardino and Losu2009Angeles counties as well as all of Orange County.

Pollution from diesel smoke and soot is a longtime conce for the Inland area.

While it has been significantly reduced in the last two decades, levels of fine-particle pollution in the South Coast air basin between the ocean and the Sanu2009Beardino Mountains failed to meet the federal health standard during 32u2009days in 2015, two more unhealthful days than the year before, according to data from the Califoia Air Resources Board.

As a result, the region missed a clean-air deadline imposed a decade ago under President George W. Bush.

The project with manufacturers to develop the trucks was called a “unique collaborative effort” in a statement from Losu2009Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino, an SCAQMD board member.

There was no timetable available for the development of the demonstration vehicles. The funding was aounced Mayu20094. The program is aimed at speeding up work on zero-emission technology for heavy-duty commercial vehicles.

The money came from Califoia Climate Investments, which uses funds from the state’s cap-and-trade auctions to explore ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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